Category: Spotlight

Local companies highlighted in Newton, MA.

Eco Friendly Pest Control Company for Mosquitoes and Ticks

My neighbor and Mom Friend Lisa sent this to our Moms’ Book Club. Pest control for mosquitos and ticks that is pesticide-free and safe for pets and kids. Sounds perfect to me! We tried the Mosquito Magnet for years but we only had success the first year when the machine was new and it’s expensive to replace annually. If the mosquitos are biting, we aren’t able to enjoy our deck. I am going to try them out!

Hello Everyone,

I hope you’re enjoying your summer. I wanted to pass on the name of a company we’ve hired to spray our yard for mosquitoes and ticks, since the spray seems to be working well and we’re enjoying summer in our yard more than in years past. The spray is pesticide-free/pet and child safe oils like rosemary and garlic and we’ve had almost no mosquitoes since the first spraying 3 weeks ago. Pure Pest Management comes to our house every 3 weeks and spends less than 10 minutes to spray our grass, plants, and trees with the oil mixture. Each application costs $65, which is around $15-20 more than I’d pay to buy similar spray to apply on my own (which I couldn’t do as well as the pest company does).

Lisa G. in Newton

* Cost of service depends on size of yard.

Pure Pest Management serves all of MetroWest and has also recently expanded to the South Shore. Their eco-consciousness extends to how they run their company. In 2011, they didn’t source any of our water from the public supply- it was all rain water using 2,100-gallon rainwater collection tanks.

p.s. I just read that West Nile Virus was confirmed in Newton mosquitoes. There are no plans to spray Newton by the city at this time.

Pure Pest Management is in Sudbury and Weston.

The web address is purepestmanagement.com and here’s the contact info:

Pure Pest Management
339 Boston Post Road Ste 6a
Sudbury, MA 01776

Phone: (978) 579-0007

E-mail: info@purepestmanagement.com

July 23, 2012
Henry Hobson Richardson in Newton

Historical Architecture Buildings in Newton by H. H. Richardson

Henry Hobson Richardson (September 29, 1838 – April 27, 1886) was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque. Along with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, Richardson is one of “the recognized trinity of American architecture”.

He’s the Frank Lloyd Wright of Newton!

Interested in learning more about H. H. Richardson? Click on image of any of these books.

H. H. Richardson also did a fair number of buildings in Newton and many still remain intact! One element that defines Richardson’s style is the use of two colored rough hewn stone. He uses this architectural “vocabulary” in all his buildings yet despite the heaviness and solidity of the stonework, his buildings have grace and lightness from his abundant use of arches. It’s Ancient Egypt Pyramids Meets Roman Arches!

Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston. This is NOT in Boston but is considered his finest work. You can see how he developed his architectural “vocabulary” from earlier projects. The two different tones of stone, repeated arches supported by pillars, and surprisingly gracefulness and lightless for a structure built of stone. (more…)

July 13, 2012
Local Gymnast Aly Raisman Brings Home Olympic Gold!

Aly Raisman from crsportsnews.

Congratulations to Needham resident Alexandra Raisman who made the U.S. Women’s Gymnastic Olympic team. She is a three-year member of the U.S. national gymnastics team and trains alongside Alicia Sacramone, also a U.S. National team member, at Brestyan’s Gymnastics.

I guess it’s the reality of Olympic Competition that two elite teammates — the same age, and making the same sacrifices — who both deserve a place on the team, but there is only one spot this Olympics for the two of them. And so one will fade into the background while the other shines in the spotlight. And yet, they are not so different and it could have gone either way had the make up of the U. S. team been different.

I admire Alicia’s grace during a time when she must have been crushed. She tweets: “Thanks to ALL of my supporters! You have been truly amazing! I leave this sport with no regrets and a kick ass comeback to my name!”

And gave a lovely compliment to her teammate …

[Alicia] Sacramone, a member of the 2008 silver medalist team at Beijing, but who missed making the London team, passed the torch to Raisman by calling her the “backbone” of the US squad, a “rock under pressure.” from the Boston Globe

Alicia Sacramone

And what makes it perhaps more difficult (or not), Alicia had an outstanding performance at the Olympic trials, but the team had been picked long before the trials began.

Sacramone had performed well on her two events, vault and beam, but she didn’t figure into the mix, even as an alternate, because the U.S. is strong on vault, led by world gold medalist McKayla Maroney.

Sacramone, 24, had torn her Achilles tendon before the 2011 world championships, but didn’t appear to figure into the plans of team coordinator Martha Karolyi during her comeback. Karolyi said she had known who her five-member team would be “for quite a while.” USA Today

All year long Martha Karolyi, the women’s national team coordinator, had said that Aly Raisman was exactly the kind of gymnast the Americans needed in London. Rock solid, consistent, unshakable. Boston.com

Aly Raisman brings experience and mental toughness to the team, and perhaps is stronger in more events than Sacramone?

Raisman, who finished fourth in the all-around at worlds in 2011, brings a steady, mentally tough presence to the floor, and will be perhaps the most experienced gymnast on the squad.

Karolyi said she also appreciates Raisman’s consistency, her unfailing ability to perform at a high level, something the U.S. team will need if it intends to win gold in London. from ESPN

The men’s and women’s gymnastics teams are contenders for Olympic Gold in London. Such big expectations mean a lot of pressure on each team member. I am confident that Aly Reisman is up to the challenge and that it will be a lot of fun to watch her on the world stage.

Aly Raisman – Balance Beam – 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Podium Training

Aly Raisman Wins Gold in Olympic Floor Exercise

Aly Raisman Beam Routine at London Olympics

Aly Raisman London 2012 Fighter

July 8, 2012
How To: Photograph Fireworks Effectively

Please donate to support the Newton Fireworks.

Photogs! Have you tried to capture 4th of July fireworks only to be disappointed? Here are 7 tips courtesy of Pholium, the digital photo book design and giving app for the iPad, with 7 do’s and don’ts to help amateur photographers take a series of sparkling photos to capture the show, just in time to capture the fireworks show in Newton.

And a plea for financial support for the Newton Fireworks show:

For the past 23 years, Newton Community Pride has sponsored the July 4th Festivities for the City of Newton. With the help of our sponsors, this celebration has been totally free to the public.

Like most non-profit organizations, Newton Community Pride is feeling the pinch of the present economic crisis. We cannot continue without your help. Having enjoyed this event for so many years, free of charge, we hope that you will help keep this tradition alive. As Newton Community Pride celebrates its 23rd Anniversary, please consider giving $23 (or any amount you choose) to help continue this fun-filled day for another 23 years!

Send a check payable to Newton Community Pride to 225 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460 or use your credit card to make a tax deductible donation on-line.

Yes, I want to help support the Newton Fireworks! Make an on-line donation.

p.s. A great place to view the Newton 4th of July Fireworks is on the hill near Albermarle Field and the Fessenden School.

1.       DO have the right equipment. A camera with manual controls and a tripod are crucial, with a remote shutter release being a close second.Setting the camera on manual allows you to control the focus of your pictures, and a tripod provides a stable place to rest the camera while taking shots – which also allows you to join the photo-taking fun!

2.       DON’T use the flash. A flash is not necessary for capturing fireworks displays since it’s already brighter than the light we normally photograph. Turn off your flash setting and let the natural light take control.

3.       DO use a lens that is wide enough to capture a more visible area than you think you need. You don’t want to miss the candid shots of your kids running around while the fireworks are in motion.

4.       DON’T be afraid to reposition. When the fireworks start going off, look at your preview screen and reposition your camera to frame the images the way you want. Feel free to move the tripod around and make sure the landscape is captured as you intend.

5.       DO lower your film speed. Lowering your film speed (or ISO in tech terms) reduces the opportunity for shadows, color specs and grain and makes for a clearer image. Because the fireworks you are capturing will be very bright, 100 ISO is an ideal place to start.

6.       DON’T forget to adjust the f-stop. The f-stop measures lens aperture and will show you if the fireworks photos are over or under exposed. If colored fireworks are white and not well defined, the shot is overexposed and the f-stop number needs to be increased. If the fireworks aren’t bright enough, the aperture needs to be opened by reducing the f-stop number.

7.       DO adjust your shutter speed. Because the length of each fireworks blast varies, setting your shutter speed to B instead of a pre-determined setting will allow you to control how long your camera’s shutter is open to capture blasts. The B setting allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you press it to capture the perfect shot.

In the end, fireworks displays offer the opportunity to experiment with your camera and have fun with your photos.And, once all the images are captured, you can use Pholium to create a digital photo book that tells a story that can be shared with family and friends.

July 3, 2012
Local Olympic Hopeful: Gymnast Alicia Sacramone

24 year old Alicia Sacramone of Winchester, MA is headed to London for the 2012 Olympic Games this July. Sacramone started competitive gymnastics at age 8 and her career has skyrocketed since then. She has had some ups and downs in her career, including a devastating fall in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a temporary retirement that followed. Just one year later, Sacramone came out of retirement and soon redeemed herself with a gold medal in vault at the 2010 World Championships. Now, she is on her way to the 2012 Olympics to show everyone what she is capable of.

July 2, 2012
Care Packages Ideas for Sleepaway Camp

I asked the experts at Maine Camp Experience to give me their best ideas for care packages and I’ve posted it here on my parenting blog, Pragmatic Mom.

Please share your best ideas! Thank you!

p.s. Here’s a few of their ideas:

• NO food is permitted; flat mail is the predominant and preferred method; most camps do not allow care package boxes, or permit a very limited number per summer

• If camps do allow them, or even for those sending flat mail, here are some suggestions and tips:

o Make it personal – what makes your child smile; books or magazines they enjoy reading at home; for kids obsessed with sports stats, send them good old fashioned newspaper print-outs of team scores

o Make it shareable – a bunk activity is great; camp is about collaboration, friendship and communication

Friendship bracelet raw materials

More ideas here.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

June 27, 2012
Children are at High Risk for Fireworks Eye Injuries
Sparklers are dangerous.

Fireworks Safety Tips for 4th of July

I remember watching the Newton city [professional] fireworks display on the hill at Fessenden two years ago with a group of families from my elementary school. One little boy ended up at the hospital that night. The culprit: those glow in the dark sticks. The boys were sword fighting and one opened up and the goo landed in his eye.

The Fourth of July is drawing near and barbeque preparations are underway. Fireworks are a traditional part of Independence Day celebrations, but they can also be dangerous. Sadly, children and teens are too often hurt by fireworks. So, before the celebration begins, get your EyeSmart fireworks safety tips from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Of the 9,000 fireworks-related injuries each year, 21 percent are eye injuries and more than half of the victims are young children or teenagers. For example:

A 6-year-old child’s eye was severely injured after he lit an M-80 firework that he found in his home. He called 911 (mp3 audio) and underwent an immediate cornea transplant and lens replacement, and required several additional eye surgeries.

A 12-year-old boy forgot to unwrap the fuse of a fountain firework, making the fuse too short. It exploded almost immediately and blew up in his face, seriously injuring his eye.

After a man lit smoke bombs that created colored smoke, his 4-year-old son leaned in to get a closer look. Tar from the smoke bomb wick shot into the boy’s eye, causing a corneal abrasion.

“Many Americans get caught up in the excitement of the Fourth of July, and forget that fireworks are also dangerous explosives,” said Monica L. Monica, M.D., an ophthalmologist and clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. “The safest choice is to attend a professional fireworks display, and make it a point to supervise children at all times.”

Even sparkers are dangerous. Sparklers typically burn at 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit and cause 27 percent of all fireworks injuries, including third-degree burns. Bottle rockets cause some of the most serious eye injuries. Errant bottle rockets can injure bystanders and cause eye lid lacerations, corneal abrasions, retinal detachment, optic nerve damage, rupture of the eyeball, and complete blindness. One in every six fireworks-related eye injuries results in permanent vision loss or blindness.

To prevent eye injuries, follow these EyeSmart tips:
- Never let children play with fireworks of any type.
- View fireworks from at least 500 feet away.
- Leave the lighting of fireworks to trained professionals.
- Respect safety barriers set up to allow pyrotechnicians to do their jobs safely.
- If you find unexploded fireworks, do not touch them. Immediately contact your local fire or police departments.
If you experience an eye injury during a fireworks accident, seek immediate medical help. For more fireworks safety tips or to find an eye M.D.in your area, visit www.geteyesmart.org.

Please be safe everyone! The ER is no fun on 4th of July!
June 26, 2012
Mia Bracciale Sings Anthem at NNHS Graduation

Mia Bracciale sings the national anthem at the Newton North High School 2012 graduation which also happens to be her graduation.

June 22, 2012
Ergonomic Advice for Setting Up Your Computer Properly

Please welcome Dr. David Oliver who has renamed his chiropractic, rehab and massage practice from Newton Wellness Center to Move Well Chiropractic to better reflect what he does. This week, he focuses on preventing back pain by having you closely examine just how you are set up at your computer.

Proper Ergonomic Set Up for Computer Users

If you are using a laptop as your main computer you are actually placing even more stress on your spine than with a desktop. Since the screen is attached to the computer, it places your neck in an anterior and forward flexed position – leading to increased muscular tension in your neck and upper back. This also places your spine in a stressed position which, with prolonged exposure can lead to earlier spinal degeneration.

I recommend switching to a desktop or modify the way you use your laptop. For example, some people get docking stations or external monitors which, help put the screen in the proper position. For a cheaper alternative you can place your laptop on a stack of books – bringing it up to the proper height (mentioned below). You then need to buy an external keyboard and external mouse (can be found now a days for about $20) well worth the money when you look at the long term gains! Once you have your laptop set up; as if it were a desktop, follow the mentioned corrections and guidelines below.

Monitor Position

Most people’s monitors are too low– causing the individual to look down and move their head forward. This causes increased stress on the spine and muscles of the neck and back – as they try to support your head. Did you know that your head weighs as much as a bowling ball (approx 10-14lbs?!) Therefore, if you have it in front of your body those muscles attached to it must work overtime to support it. Research has shown that for every inch your head is in front of your body it gains 10lbs in pressure placed on the body!

The top of the monitor should be at the level of your eyebrows and no higher than the top of your head. Placing the monitor on a book or two may be necessary in order to achieve this height. If you use multiple monitors you need to be sure to rotate your chair when changing between monitors – don’t rotate your head. If you find yourself straining to see the monitor you may need to get glasses or change the setting on your computer to make the font larger. The monitor should be 20-40 inches from your head, you can move within this range to gain the best view of the monitor.

Keyboard Position

Most people position their keyboard too highcausing them to work with shrugged shoulders and elevated arms. Whenever we lift our arms or shoulders we activate the muscles of the neck and upper back. In order to understand this concept more, do the following test. Have someone stand behind you while you sit at your desk. Have them place their hands on your upper back and neck. Start with you arms relaxed at your side and have them find areas that are tender or tight. Then raise your arms to reach out and type as you normally do. You will either feel an increased soreness or feel the contraction of your muscles in the areas being touched.

Next, drop your arms down again and only bend slightly at your elbows. You should feel significantly less tension and pain doing this. If you were to work for hours on end with your shoulders and arms elevated, you would cause those muscles to fatigue over time. You would also develop muscular adhesions and trigger points (those extremely common hard painful knots you feel in your upper back and shoulders).

All of this leads to increased pain and discomfort in your upper back and neck. To avoid these complications you need to position your keyboard at the height of your elbows or just below – with your shoulders relaxed, not shrugged. Your elbows should be resting at your side not away from your body.

A lot of times simply raising the height of your chair can correct the problem (remember to adjust the monitor height if you raise your chair). However, for some (either because of desk height or other issues) this does not correct the problem. Some people may need to change desks or have a keyboard drawer installed to allow proper keyboard height. When you finally do get the keyboard to the proper position, remember that your mouse must also be at the same height and close – you should not have to reach for it!

Move Well Chiropractic. 1280 Centre St. Ste. 210. Newton, MA. 02459. 617-641-9999

June 15, 2012
GIVEAWAY: 3 Thirty Minute Massages from Move Well Chiropractic!

Please welcome Dr. David Oliver from Move Well Chiropractic, formerly known as Newton Wellness Center on what the name change means to him. And don’t forget to LIKE his Facebook page to win a thirty minute massage!

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I decide to change the name of my office for several reasons. There are a couple other offices in Newton with very similar names and I thought it would be good to help distinguish my practice from theirs. I also wanted something that better represented what my type of practice is all about. The experience someone has when they go to one chiropractor vs another can be completely different. There are many different philosophies and methods of practice today, and I want people to be as informed as possible when choosing who to go see.

My style of practice is focused on providing more than just chiropractic adjustments alone. Chiropractic adjustments are excellent at restoring mobility and alleviating someone’s discomfort. And that is where treatment typically begins. But I have found that unless we take it further the persons problems usually will reoccur. We need to discover why they are in pain to begin with – what truly is causing the pain?

Many times it comes down to the things we do day in and day out. Whether it’s sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day or running around, driving kids to and from different activities. The positions we put ourselves in on a daily basis play a huge roll in how healthy and functional our bodies are. Sitting at a computer for instance (which many of us do for several hours a day) is detrimental to our bodies. The seated position places our spines under a lot of stress, which over time creates injuries. By teaching people proper ways to sit and work at their computers (ergonomics) many of these issues can be avoided.

Other things we do on a daily basis that we think of as harmless, could actually be causing some problems for us. For example, bending over to tie our shoes, driving in you car, bending to pick up your children, gardening, or even sleeping can be problematic for our spine. Doing these simple things may not bother us at the moment but over time they can actually lead to injury. Learning to do such things with better efficiency will lead to a more pain free and enjoyable life.

Another huge part of the reason so many people have recurring pain is due to the way they are treating their bodies. Either they aren’t doing any physical activity at all, causing their bodies to not be prepared for what it needs to do. Or they are doing exercise and trying to take care of themselves. Unfortunately many times the exercises and routines people choose are actually contributing to their problems (ie. situps). Situps for instance have long been looked at at improving spinal strength and being good for us. The research unfortunately does not support this. Each situp done places 700 lbs of pressure in the lower spine! Doing this repeatedly is only asking for trouble. There are plenty of other exercises which we can do to strengthen our abs and core without sacrificing our spine. By teaching people better/safer exercises and how to perform them properly in my office they are better prepared to engage in physical activity at home.

My goal is not to have my patients become dependent on me. I hope everyone learns from what I can teach them and it helps to eliminate the major episodes of pain which greatly interfere with their lives. By teaching and incorporating therapeutic exercise into my treatment I can prepare my patients to be able to take care of themselves once treatment is over. They shouldn’t have to rely on getting adjusted to feel better, we all posses the ability to take care of our own bodies!

I encourage everyone (whether you are new to chiropractic and curious or you have tried it with another doctor but didn’t get the results you were looking for) to give my office a call. I would love to sit down for a free consultation so you can better understand what it is I may be able to offer you and decide for yourself if it is something you would like to try.

As a way to celebrate the office change and our new Facebook page we will be giving away three – 30 minute massages. Anyone who Likes our new Facebook page before the end of May will be entered.

Yours in Health,
Dr David Oliver

May 17, 2012