Yankee Shopper by Hersam Acorn

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www.yankeeshopperonline.com

Shopper

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January 6, 2011

Guide to the Inside ��

Crossword........................... Page 7

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Business & Services ........... Page 3

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Classiﬁeds ........................... Page 3

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Real Estate .......................... Page 9

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Auto ................................... Page 11

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Help Wanted..................... Page 12

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editorial email yankee@hersamacornma.com

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advertising email art@hersamacornma.com

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Classiﬁed Deadline: January 28, 2011

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Display Deadline: January 28, 2011 ��

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Editorial Deadline: 20th at noon the month before publication.

Manager’s Memo

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800.234.1432 Fax 802.447.3270 Classiﬁed 800.234.1432 editorial email yankee@hersamacornma.com advertising email art@hersamacornma.com ■

Renee Tassone, General Manager Linda Devlin, Circulation Manager Carrie Devlin, Advertising Sales Linday Perry, Advertising Sales Sarah Masiero, Advertising Sales Melissa Miller, Art Director Jen Hathaway, Artist Chris Sobolowski, Artist ■

Editorial Deadline*: 20th of month prior Classiﬁed Deadline*: 20th of month prior Display Deadline*: 20th of month prior *Deadlines will change due to Holidays. See special deadline notices published before major holidays. ■

Submission Guidelines: Those wishing to submit event listings or editorial content may email yankee@hersamacornma.com. ■

Notice: The Yankee Shopper will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The publisher reserves the sole right to edit, revise, or reject any and all advertising, with or without cause being assigned, which in the publisher’s judgement is contrary to the interests of this publication. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. ©2010, Hersam Acorn Newspapers. All contents of the Yankee Shopper are copyrighted, and any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

So, do you want to know what makes me cranky? Twenty inches of snow on the ground makes me cranky. It is everywhere I look. I often wonder why I live here. My husband and I plan on living here for another nine years and then we will move somewhere warm, probably Florida or Arizona. We require only three things; an inground pool, 300 days of sunshine and a constant flowing keg (gluten free of course). We don’t think it is too much to ask. The only thing that gets me through winter is watching Sunday football. It goes by so fast, there is only one week left of the regular season. This year it seems to be ending just when winter is really starting. Now we work our way towards the Super Bowl, which is like a holiRenee Tassone, General Manager day for me. We get in a ton of pools around town (none of which we ever win) but we have fun doing it. We spend the whole day going to different places, getting our numbers, eating and drinking. Then we go home at half time and watch the second half at home. I think the Patriots are going to go all the way this year. They have been doing so well. I think their coach is the only not fearing for his job. I cannot get over the number of coaches that are getting fired mid-season this year. That is what happens if the team doesn’t do well, they get rid of the coach. I hope everyone enjoyed Christmas. It is such a crazy time of year. I went out Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve and everywhere I went there were tons of people and everyone had a frantic look on their face. I bet it is even worse on Black Friday. I would never go out shopping on that day. I know people that go out at three in the morning, stand outside in the freezing cold and fight the crowds all to save a few bucks. Now that our kids are getting older my husband and I are going to start volunteering our time on Christmas Day. The American Legion in North Adams serves almost 600 dinners on that day so I am sure they could always use an extra hand or two. They have been doing that for years, Williams College generously donates the turkeys (all 21 of them) and some of the fixings. Some people come there to eat dinner and other meals are delivered to people’s homes. That is really what Christmas is all about. As always we encourage your feedback. Feel free to send us your press releases to yankee@hersamacornma. com or berkshire@hersamacornma.com. Check us out online at www.ishopberkshires.com. Renee Tassone, General Manager

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Martin Hersam, Chief Operating Ofﬁcer Thomas B. Nash, Publisher

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November 10, 2010

J.W. HOME REPAIR

General Repairs, Interior Painting, Renovations Handyman Service. 30 Years Experience Lee, MA

413-429-7375

MCS#093946 HIC#102764

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November 10, 2010

Yankee Shopper

Gun Show and Sale

Start Living Debt Free in the New Year

The largest gun show ever held in the Capitol District will be staged January 22, 2011 and January 23, 2011 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York. Hours of the show on Saturday will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Over 400 exhibits and displays will be provided by our collectors and dealers from all over the northeastern United States and Canada. Featured will be displays and sale tables of U.S. military arms, Colt revolvers, high grade double barreled shotguns, Remingtons, muskets, Smith & Wesson, Kentucky rifles, gun parts and accessories, Indian items, frontier and western paraphernalia, Sharps, Springfields, Winchesters, swords, bowie knives, powder horns, civilian and military weapons from all nations, custom-made and factory-made knives, military relics and equipment from before the Revolutionary War to the present. While most items are for sale on a cash basis, gun shows cling to the oldfashioned trade and barter way of doing business. Haggling for the very best deal possible is both expected and accepted. Old and unwanted guns gladly purchased by our collectors who will pay top prices. Admission is $6.00 per day, free for children under 12 with adult admission. Seniors are $5.00 per day. For additional information, contact Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

(ARA) - Jan. 1 arrives every year with the hope and promise of losing pounds, improving relationships and paying off those bills from the holiday spending season. Unfortunately, at some point most every American has made a New Year’s resolution only to have that new gym membership go unused, the scale ignored and credit card debt continue to pile up. But according to New York Times best-selling author and personal finance coach David Bach, getting out

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of debt this year can actually be fairly simple. “Getting out of debt is a pretty straightforward process,” says Bach, whose latest book, Debt Free for Life: The Finish Rich Plan for Financial Freedom, outlines a plan for getting out of debt.“The issue people have is getting started - the average American family is carrying roughly $49,000 worth of consumer and mortgage debt and that can be daunting.” To overcome the fear of getting started Bach recommends changing your frame of mind when it comes to paying off debt - don’t focus on what you’re giving up, but rather think about what debt is holding you back from - family vacations, buying a new home, or even starting your own business. Focusing on what living debt-free will enable to you to do helps keep you focused and motivated. Bach recommends by starting the process with an honest self-assessment, asking questions like “Why are you in debt?”“How much debt do you have?” and most importantly “Why do you want to be debt-free for life?” “Being honest about your debt, for a lot of people, means overcoming a major obstacle-getting started,” he says.“The sooner you get honest with yourself about your debt, the better positioned you’ll be to start taking real action to get out of debt.” After you’ve answered those questions, the next step is to stop spending on non-essentials. Bach’s “latte factor” is an example of how eliminating a store-bought cup of coffee can quickly add up and be applied to paying off your debt. Beyond cutting spending, Bach suggests taking a methodical approach to eliminating debt by charting your debts and determining your “done on last payment” date, or DOLP, for each account. Factoring in the interest rate and pay off amount you can easily determine which debts to pay off first in order to maximize your savings on interest. “If you’re still overwhelmed by charting out a debt repayment plan then try an automated system,” says Bach. “I personally like Debt Wise from credit reporting agency Equifax - they use the information they already have from your credit card companies and other lenders to automatically prioritize your debts into a personalized plan that will help you save money in interest and get out of debt faster. The tool even updates you as you make progress on your plan.” For more information about Debt Wise, go to www.debtwise.com. Yankee Shopper

November 10, 2010

For Dogs, Flu Season is All the Time (ARA) - As you schedule flu shots for yourself and your children, you may want to consider doing the same for the canine members of the family. If you haven’t heard of the canine influenza virus (CIV), or the dog flu, you are probably not alone - the disease was first identified in 2004. While humans typically line up for vaccinations in the fall to protect them during the colder months, dogs can get the disease at any time. Dogs affected by a CIV infection experience a respiratory infection. For most dogs, it is a mild illness, but some get very sick and the disease can cause lingering health issues. Here are some things you should know about canine influenza: • It’s highly contagious. Most dogs have not built up immunity to the disease because it’s relatively new. Dogs can get the disease by being exposed to dogs that have it, as well as playing with toys or drinking from bowls used by other dogs. • Humans cannot contract the disease. But they can spread it through their clothing or other items that have come in contact with infected dogs. • The virus has been detected in 34 states so far. Since it was first identified in Florida racing greyhounds in 2004, the disease has spread rapidly. Most states report some incidence of the disease, but it can be difficult to track because it’s hard to diagnose. To view where the dog flu has been found, visit www.doginfluenza.com. • Dog flu is difficult to detect. Dogs become sick before they start showing symptoms, like coughing. Because it’s a relatively new disease, many veterinarians are not yet experienced in identifying it. • The disease can be really serious. Most dogs recover from the dog

flu, but some suffer secondary infections like pneumonia, which can be fatal. Many dogs suffer lung damage that may not be detectable in clinical examinations. • Treating a dog for CIV is costly. Treatment costs can be significant, especially if your dog has to be hospitalized. For the owner of a boarding kennel, an outbreak is even more costly both in terms of money and reputation. Fortunately, the discomforts and potential danger of dog flu can be mitigated, because there is a vaccine. The Nobivac Canine Flu H3N8 Vaccine was launched under a conditional license in 2009 and fully licensed by the USDA in 2010. Like human flu vaccine, it does not guarantee your dog won’t be infected, but it can significantly decrease the severity and spread of the dog flu. By getting your dog vaccinated you can save on the potential costs of treating the disease, as well as promote canine health by helping prevent its spread. Clinics and boarders are also beginning to require the vaccine - 20 percent currently do, according to the 2010 Veterinary Economics “State of the Industry Study.” Because the vaccine requires two doses the first year, given two to four weeks apart, it’s important to plan ahead if you are boarding or traveling with your dog. Starting the process six weeks ahead of when your dog may be exposed will allow the vaccine enough time to protect your dog. The more social your dog, the more likely it will be exposed to the disease. By thinking about pet health this flu season, you can help ensure a longer and healthier life for your dog. So ask your veterinarian whether the canine flu vaccination is right for your dog.

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Five Ways Recent Small Business Legislation Can Help Entrepreneurs (ARA) - Anyone thinking about starting a business, and entrepreneurs already running their own small business, face new opportunities, thanks to recent changes in legislation. If you’ve been dreaming of opening your own business, following that dream into 2011 will allow you to capitalize on these new opportunities. Many of these legislative acts have an expiration date, while some offer advantages many years into the future. BizFilings points out that implementing these five important takeaways will save you money and help position your business for success. 1. Hiring in 2010 can lead to a tax break and tax credit Employers hiring workers who have been unemployed at least 60 days are not only helping to reduce the unemployment rate, they may also qualify for an exemption from the 6.2 percent employer portion of the Social Security tax as part of the HIRE Act. The exemption applies to wages paid to any qualified employee hired after March 17, 2010. The value of this tax relief (per employee) can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The act also makes available an additional general business tax credit of up to $1,000 for each qualified employee hired in 2010 who is retained for a full year. 2. Elimination of capital gains tax provides incorporation benefits The Small Business Jobs Act includes a special provision that eliminates the capital gains tax. This provision applies only to C corporations.

Through the end of 2010, non-corporate investors, such as individuals or partnerships, who invest in the stock of a qualified small business corporation and who hold that stock for at least five years can exclude 100 percent of the gain from their income. “Incorporating your small business into a formal entity, like a C corporation or limited-liability company, does more than offer limited-liability protection by separating the owner and the business,” says Karen Kobelski, general manager of BizFilings, a full-service, online incorporation provider. “Incorporation lends credibility to the business’ operations whether interacting with banking officials, equipment resellers or potential investors.” If your business isn’t already a C corporation, it is easy to make it one by incorporating online. 3. Giving small business owners and employees health insurance has benefits for the future Offering employees health insurance has not always been an option for every small business. With the new Affordable Health Care Act, this grim reality may be a thing of the past. Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees are eligible for a tax credit for up to 35 percent (increasing to 50 percent in 2014) of premiums paid for employee health insurance. Businesses with average employee annual wages of $50,000 or less can qualify for the credit. This credit helps minimize the burden of providing health insurance for employees. The Small

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Five Ways Recent Small Business Legislation Can Help Entrepreneurs continued from page 6 Business Jobs Act makes it possible for more people to have health insurance. A provision in this act allows business owners to deduct the cost of health insurance in calculating their 2010 self-employment taxes. Health insurance that covers business owners’ families can also be deducted. 4. Additional opportunities to obtain small business loans permit future lending Based on the new law that is part of the Small Business Jobs Act, not only are more businesses eligible to apply for loan guarantees, but the loan amounts are higher, as well. The maximum loan amount available under the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) loan program and 504 loan program has increased from $2 million to $5 million. The maximum loan amount available under the SBA’s Express Loan Program has increased from $350,000 to $1 million. The increase in available loans may make it possible for some small businesses to get the support they need to succeed.

addition, the expensing election has been extended through 2011; the allowable amount has been increased to $500,000 and the investment limit to $2 million - the highest amounts ever permitted. Businesses can elect to expense costs in either year that best fits within these new increases and their budgets. These new laws are positively impacting America’s entrepreneurs and their financial futures. Position your business for success at the end of 2010, and start 2011 off on the right foot by taking advantage of these tax breaks, benefits and deductions.

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5. The cost of acquiring capital assets has been lowered Businesses that invest in equipment and other assets can take advantage of the 50 percent “bonus depreciation” deduction until the end of 2010, thanks to the Small Business Jobs Act. New businesses can also deduct more money and recoup start-up costs up front, with the allowable amount of start-up cost deductions rising to $10,000 in 2010. In

Don’t Overlook These Tax Breaks on Your 2010 Return (ARA) - Every year, taxpayers miss out on hundreds or thousands of dollars in tax breaks simply because they don’t know the benefits exist. “Figuring out what tax breaks are available, whether you qualify, and what forms you need can be tricky,” says Jessi Dolmage of TaxACT, makers of tax preparation software. Dolmage offers some tips for taking advantage of commonly missed deductions and credits: • If you paid for child care in 2010, you may be eligible for the Child and Dependent Care Credit. Day care, pre-kindergarten, beforeschool and after-school programs and summer day camp for children 13 or younger qualify. The care must have been provided so that you, and your spouse, if filing jointly, could work or look for work (exceptions apply for fulltime students and the disabled). The credit amount varies based on filing status and adjusted gross income, but the maximum benefit is 35 percent of expenses for joint filers with an adjusted gross income of $15,000. Eligible expenses are reduced by dependent care benefits provided by your employer that you deduct or exclude from your income. Payment for care cannot be

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paid to a spouse, a dependent on your return, or to a child who will not be age 19 or older by the end of the year even if he or she is not your dependent; thus, care provider(s) must be identified on your return. • 2010 is the last year to claim the Nonbusiness Energy Credit, worth up to 30 percent of the costs for many energyefficient home improvements. Up to $1,500 for 2009 and 2010 combined can be claimed, but only for the year during which the improvements were made. Other green improvements like solar hot water property, geothermal heat pumps and wind energy property may qualify for the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit. • If you travel in order to provide services at charitable events, you may be able to take a miscellaneous deduction. Deductible expenses include transportation costs, out-of-pocket expenses for your car, taxi fares or other costs of transportation between the airport or station, continued on page 9

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PAYMENT INFORMATION

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Don’t Overlook These Tax Breaks on Your 2010 Return continued from page 8 and your hotel, lodging and meals. The trip should include little to no personal recreation or vacation. Be sure to keep receipts and detailed documentation. • Be rewarded for contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement plan or an individual retirement arrangement (IRA). The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is worth up to $1,000 for taxpayers born before Jan. 2, 1992 ($2,000 for joint filers). The non-refundable credit is a percentage of the qualifying contribution amount minus distribution amounts, with the highest rates given to lower incomes. • If you spent money looking for a job in the same field during 2010, you may qualify for a miscellaneous deduction. Employment agency fees, resume printing and postage costs and travel to and from the area

(if the travel was primarily to look for a new job) are eligible. You aren’t eligible if you’re looking for your first job or there was substantial time between the end of your last job and the time you looked for a new one. • Affordable, do-it-yourself tax software and online solutions make getting all your credits and deductions easy and fast,” Dolmage says. “The program walks you through each credit and deduction, and completes the necessary forms. Solutions like TaxACT also guarantee your biggest refund and make getting every credit and deduction you deserve easy.” Details about these and other 2010 tax breaks can be found at www.irs. gov. TaxACT Free Federal Edition, available at www.taxact.com, guides you through these tax benefits, and allows you to prepare, print and efile your federal return free.

REAL ESTATE

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Yankee Shopper

Vacation Homes: From a Dream to a $35,000 Income Stream (ARA) - For those who’ve ever dreamed of buying a vacation home in the mountains, on the beach, or in the big city, it’s becoming easier and more common for people to make that dream a reality. In fact, Americans bought more than half a million vacation homes last year, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low mortgage rates, median sale prices that were down more than 15 percent, and the potential for generating substantial rental revenue are among the reasons many have made their dreams of a second home come true. While baby boomers have historically led vacation home purchases, nearly half of the buyers in 2009 were under the age of 45, and the median household income of vacation home buyers was $87,500 down from $99,100 just two years ago. “An increasing number of younger buyers are getting into the market, seeing a vacation home as a long-term investment and a source for

ongoing personal enjoyment and memories,” says Tom Kelly, author of “How a Second Home Can Be Your Best Investment.” Kelly points to the NAR Investment and Home Buyers Survey that found vacation home owners plan to own their homes for an average of 16 years, up from 12 years in 2008 and 10 years in 2007. Offsetting the cost of vacation home ownershipMore people are able to afford a vacation home due in large part to the potential revenue stream that comes with renting the home to travelers - something that’s become especially easy thanks to the rapid growth of the online vacation rental industry in the past few years. HomeAway, Inc., which operates online vacation rental sites HomeAway.com, VRBO.com and VacationRentals.com, has grown dramatically since it was founded continued on page 11

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Vacation Homes: From a Dream to a $35,000 Income Stream

AUTOMOTIVE

continued from page 10 in 2005. The company now boasts more than 540,000 vacation home listings. “Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for vacation home owners to advertise their properties and manage their bookings online,” says Brian Sharples, founder and chief executive officer of HomeAway. “We literally deliver millions of rental inquiries each year to our owners who list their homes for rent on our sites.” Those inquiries can lead to substantial revenue. Sharples says the average second home owner rents out their property to travelers about 20 weeks a year, generating more than $35,000 in rental income annually. “The rental income that our home owners generate can help cover a typical second home mortgage as well as basic home maintenance and repairs,” he adds.

Tips for generating rental income from a vacation home For those in the market to buy a vacation home, Kelly offers the following tips for where to buy, what to consider and how to maximize rental income. 1. Carefully review the destinations where you enjoy vacationing, and before you buy, consider the areas where consumer demand for vacation rentals is high. 2. Talk to an accountant about the tax advantages of owning and renting out a second home. 3. When you’re ready to rent out the property, be sure to market the availability of the vacation rental to travelers by advertising it on sites like HomeAway.com or VRBO.com. 4. Check out other similar vacation rentals in the area to determine what rates they’re charging, and price your home competitively. For more information on buying a second home and effective strategies for maximizing rental income, visit HomeAway’s online community for vacation rental owners at www.ownercommunity.com.

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