In our fast-paced world we have all grown accustomed to the hustle of the crowd-inducing aisles of supermarkets and mega stores. The convenience of one-stop shopping continues to have an addictive appeal to most of us who consider the basic need to gather provisions as just one more hectic chore on our to-do lists. We fight our way to the four corners of vast stores that house all our needs within the available square footage. However, there is still the undeniable draw to a simpler time, a simplicity that often comes in the form of the specialty shop. The extra time we take to make that …

We’ve all heard of Facebook. We’ve all used Google. However, there are many ways to harness the immense popularity, visibility and practicality of these Internet powerhouses to the advantage of small local businesses. For example, services and products are recommended by your customers to their friends using the social networking powers of Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, and LinkedIn. This is in essence the phenomenon referred to as social marketing. And it has proven to be a highly effective method by which to get the word out on what your local business has to offer. Where Art Thou? How can …

We drive by them all the time. We register them in our mind for a moment or two, but then quickly allow them to fade from our memory. It’s not until the weather starts to improve, until the warmth of spring slowly melts away the burden of winter’s ice that parents everywhere start to wonder where they can take their kids for some good old-fashioned fun and exercise. There are many playgrounds that dot our urban landscape and we are all too familiar with the collection of slides, jungle gyms and swings that stand ever ready like sentinels at the schoolyard down the street. However, as the hum …

Health is something we all take for granted. We seldom take notice of the signs that our strength and agility might be on the decline before our very eyes. In addition to the strain our bodies endure, our mental well-being is faced with the daily pressures that come from stress, contributing greatly to diminished health outside the usual factors of age, inactivity and other less healthy lifestyles. Over time there have been many different methods by which people have sought to create balance in their health and overall fitness. In modern times alone an overwhelmingly large number of fad diets…

How many times have we stared blankly at a pile of neglected mail teetering atop our kitchen counter, daring us to go through it and cull out all those flyers and credit card approvals? How many times have we stood in horror at the threshold of our closets, unable to move or speak from the sheer bedlam we see before our eyes? Whether its our kitchen cabinets spilling forth dozens of mismatched plastic covers and containers, or our filing cabinets overflowing with decades of tax returns and outdated utility bills, the very thought of tackling such overwhelming tasks is enough to send us …

It’s no longer a surprise to see eclectic little eateries taking root amidst North Shore town squares and centers. Their storefronts rub elbows with quaint boutiques and gift shops, hoping to lure the wandering window shopper away from purchasing material substances and move them toward participating in nurturing sustenance. Stoneham Square is no exception. Or is it? The square lacks in pedestrian traffic as one may be more apt to pull their car over and run into one of the local shops or businesses on a quick errand. With few people sauntering about, idly passing the time away, the square’s …

Look hard enough and you’ll see it piling up in your car’s cup holder. Think hard enough and you’ll remember how it finds its way out of your pockets and into a long designated container, a make-shift catch-all for all those annoying remnants of your past day. We all have it and we all collect it. And as with anything else, no matter how small, over time it adds up. This was the concept behind the creation of Gathering Change, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization that collects spare change from our communities for distribution back into our neighborhood food pantries and social …

The art of beauty and cosmetics has been a prevalent institution within human civilizations for millennia. Though the methods by which this art is practiced have changed over time, today's products can do everything from hide pores, smoothing out complexions to enhance the natural hue of eye color, moving it along a more vibrant degree of the spectrum. As with any art form, the long history of the world of make-up wouldn't be the same without its artists. Using the already existing beauty of a human face, make-up artists have a vast array of canvas to work with, each one presenting its own …

Originating in 1986, in Arlington, Va., Five Guys Burgers and Fries Restaurant is an ever expanding edition to our nation’s beloved obsession with the classic burger joint. The chain has opened 300 restaurants in less than five years which makes it no surprise that this successful franchise has made its way into our neck of the woods. “We’re very excited to bring Five Guys Burgers and Fries to Stoneham,” said Marc Magerman, one of five entrepreneurs that make up Massachusetts Burger Enterprises, LLC, the corporation that owns the restaurant that will soon take up residence at Redstone …

Choosing childcare can be an extremely stressful time for most families. Parents need to be diligent and meticulous in their selection process, cross-checking against different options and facilities that will best match their child’s specific needs. Some reputable options for parents to consider are the child care centers that are owned and operated by the Melrose Family YMCA. One such center, the Melrose YMCA Child Care Center, 39 Pleasant Street, offers safe, reliable and nurturing care to children ages 6 weeks to 7 years right here in our own community. Recently, in an effort to refinance…

On Dec. 26, just one day removed from Christmas, the entire eastern seaboard was pummeled by a nor'easter which brought gusty winds and plenty of snow. The general chaos that accompanies a winter tempest of this size was as overwhelming as the snow itself. Holiday travelers were stranded as flights across the board were cancelled. Intense snowfall created whiteout conditions on roadways causing police across the state to respond to countless automobile accidents and spin-outs. The worst part of the storm hit the Stoneham area between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Dec. 27, dumping a total of about 15 …

Every little bit counts: A familiar saying people offer others who might think their efforts aren't quite enough to make a difference. It's a very true and philosophical adage. Every little bit does count; however, there are those among us that truly make a huge impact. Take, for example, Vietnam Veterans and Stoneham residents Frank Geary and Walter Kopek. It all started with a conversation and an idea that these two men tossed around one day. “Walter’s son was about to go oversees,” said Geary. “With this in mind, and given our own experience, we wanted to do something special for our local…

As its name suggests, Evergreen Florist is a local business that can truly be categorized as self-renewing. Situated in the heart of Stoneham Square, Evergreen Florist occupies one of the area's newest standing structures, while being one of its longest running businesses. A Stoneham establishment for more than 30 years, Evergreen Florist, located at 397 Main St., is currently enjoying a rebirth of sorts at its original and much esteemed location on the Square since reopening there in May 2007. Sadly, as with any rebirth, the events that preceded Evergreen's were truly devastating. Fire …