Baby it's cold outside...

There seems to be more than a chill in the air lately....frost on the car in the morning and the store window too. And, turning the clocks back this weekend, brings that extra hour of sleep (which I know I can use) but is also brings the negative of getting darker earlier.

Change in the weather, change in the calendar, all that brings thoughts of winter closing in on us. Winter means different things to different people - holidays, family fun, snow days, etc. But in the current economic climate, for some, it means just the opposite. With that in mind and in our continuing effort to help others (October saw "Pink Fridays" for Relay for Life), during the month of November, we will collect non-perishable food items. These items will be donated to the Easthampton Community Center for their Food Distribution Program.

We encourage the public is to stop in during normal store hours to make a donation. As a thank you for your generosity, you will receive a store coupon.

In a press release sent to local media this morning we stated, “In these tough economic times, it’s important to not only be thankful for what you have but to share what you have with those who do not. This food drive is an effort to do that. It is part of our continuing effort to be a support to the Easthampton community.” We hope that this effort will help fill the shelves of the Community Center’s food pantry.

LAST "PINK FRIDAY" IS TOMORROW - HALLOWEEN!

Back a few weeks ago, we announced he creation of “Pink Fridays” at the store in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We only have one "Pink Friday" left - tomorrow, Halloween! So stop in (even in costume) and help support our fundraising efforts for Relay for Life. Here's how:

Every Friday during the month of October for every person who comes in wearing pink, the store will donate $1 to Relay for Life. And, for every person who purchases something pink, the store will donate $2 to Relay for Life.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length. Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.

This will be the 2nd year that Mary Ann’s Dance and More has participated in the Hampshire County Relay for Life as a team. Last year they walked in honor of and in memory of family members and friends. Mary Ann’s Dance and More welcomes new members to their team as well.

Dance Movies - have you seen any? Which ones did you like?

With all the dance reality shows on TV, I began to think about the dance movies out there. Some I've seen - and yes, I'm dating myself here - like Dirty Dancing, Flashdance, Saturday Night Fever, Staying Alive, Fame and Footloose. But there are others that I haven't seen. If you have seen any, let us know by posting a comment - what did you think? how many times have you seen it? is it one of your favorites? are there other films we missed?

Here's some of the ones out there:

Step Up is a treat for dance fans. It is full of slick moves and great dancing, and actor Channing Tatum is an excellent dancer. There's a notable group dance scene in a nightclub, watch for it.

Shall We Dance was a remake of a Japanese movie wherein Richard Gere plays a happily married but bored man who sneaks around learning ballroom dancing to get to know the beautiful dance instructor.

Save the Last Dance, a teen romance featuring Julia Stiles depicts a young dancer who loses her mother. The ballerina meets a young hip-hop dancer, and they become an item. Not a great film, but the dancing's worth watching.

Mad Hot Ballroom is a documentary about elementary school students from New York City. The learn ballroom dancing and compete. At first they're reluctant, later they dance like pros. It makes you feel like anyone can do it.

Saturday Night Fever is one of the all time great dance movies and arguably the number one icon of the disco era. John Travolta played a 19 year-old paint shop worker who is dumb as rocks except on the dance floor. A great movie. One wonders if the real 70's looked this good.

Center Stage is a ballet film that follows three young women at American Ballet Academy as they strive to make the big time.

Strictly Ballroom is not just an outstanding dance film, but an outstanding film. Baz Luhrmann's (Moulin Rouge) first feature has Paul Mercurio portraying a ballroom dancer who attempts to innovate in the garish, stuffy world of Australian ballroom dancing. The story's compelling, the dancing's great, and the jokes are funny. Highly recommended.

Flashdance, the defining dance film of the 80's, follows Jennifer Beals as she welds for a living by day while she attempts to break into showbiz by dancing her heart out (or more accurately, her body double dances her heart out).

Excerpted from:
Dance Movies
By Dance.com Staff Writer Published: 07/24/2008

Interesting Article re: Pointe

Rain, rain, go away...all this rain has given me the chance to "surf" the web (almost literally with such downpours!). I came across this article on Dance.com and thought I'd share it...

Pointe Ballet
By Dance.com Staff Writer Published: 07/22/2008

Dancing on pointe, or en pointe, involves literally standing on the tips off your toes while performing ballet moves. Pointe work is performed using hard-toed and stiff-shanked shoes specially designed for dancing en pointe. It is the centerpiece of female ballet dancer's training and repertoire, and requires tremendous strength and skill. Pointe work carries certain dangers, and all would-be pointe dancers should be aware of the risk of injury pointe entails. Pointe dancers need to take extra care to make sure they protect their feet from calluses, corns, bruising and other minor injuries. When Marie Taglioni danced La Syphilide, en pointe in 1832, she wasn't the first ballerina to raise en pointes, but is credited as the developer of modern pointe technique.

When Taglioni rose en pointe, she wore soft ballet slippers with a reinforced toe area. They weren't nearly as stiff as today's pointe shoes. Unlike today, the actual moments en pointe were brief and consisted mostly of balanced poses.

Pointe developed in romantic ballet and is a central element of ballet in general, but other dance forms have adopted it, such as jazz, street dance and tap. They don't all call it pointe, and don't necessarily limit it to women, as ballet does, such as the toe stands done in tap.

There are several methods dancers use to rise en pointe. Dancers of the French school rise on their toes by passing through half-pointe (demi-pointe). The second method, favored by the Russian and Italian schools, involves the dancer springing onto her toes with a small hop. This stresses the calves less than the French approach. In practice today, experienced dancers tend to use a combination of the two techniques, depending on context within the choreography.

The difference in techniques was influenced by a difference in shoe design: Italian cobblers had designed harder toe boxes for ballerinas that allowed them to perform more difficult steps on their toes. The Russian ballerinas, imitating the Italians, added even stiffer soles to support them during difficult steps. It was nearly impossible to pass through half-pointe in the new, stiffer shoes. This accounts for the difference between the Russian/Italian and French techniques of pointe ballet.

Phising Attack Uses Better Business Bureau Name to Trap Consumers and Businesses

Phishing Attack Uses Better Business Bureau Name to Trap Consumers and Businesses
10/23/2008

Scheme uses E-Mail and Blogs to Encourage Recipients to Register Software with BBB

Arlington, VA – October 23, 2008 – Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers and businesses about a phishing scheme that uses both e-mail messages and blog posts directing recipients and viewers to register software with BBB. BBB wants the public to know that such messages and posts are not coming from any element of the BBB System, and that this attack has not affected BBB computer systems or networks nor has any data been comprised.

Reports to BBB indicate that businesses began receiving bogus messages yesterday, requiring them to “register new software and update contact information” with BBB, and provided a link for the process. In investigating the attack, BBB also discovered phony “notices” and postings on various blogs being used as additional tactic to reach victims.

“The messages and posts are most likely part of a large-scale phishing scam leveraging the trusted nature of the BBB name to entice recipients and bloggers to open messages and access attachments or links,” said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. “Anyone receiving an e-mail or viewing a blog requiring the registration of software with BBB should not click on any links or in any way respond to the message, because doing so may allow harmful viruses or spyware to enter the recipient’s computer or network.”

Following is a copy of an actual e-mail associated with this phishing scheme:
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Better Business Bureaus Account Service" <provisor670@bbb.org>Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:04:22 +0000

Attention Better Business Bureaus Consumers!

We've enhanced web surfing process with new security measures to keep your online data and personal information safer.All registered and new BBB consumers must register new software and update contact information until October 24, 2008.Please read the following information carefully:

Register your BBB company certificate here>>>Link>>>>

As always, we appreciate your business. And thank you for working with us.

Sincerely,
Sherry Hopper.
2008 Council of Better Business Bureaus

BBB has determined that there are a number of addresses and subject lines being used in to perpetrate the e-mail element of the attack. Following is a representative sample of actual address and subject lines used in this attack.

• Address: “Better Business Bureaus Service Center " provisor399@bbb.org• Subject Line: Council of Better Business Bureaus - We restrict access to nonpublic personal information about you

• Address: "Better Business Bureaus Update" provisor633@bbb.org• Subject Line: Better Business Bureaus, Attention: Protecting your personal information

• Address: Better Business Bureaus Support Center provisor062@bbb.org• Subject Line: Better Business Bureaus, Attention: Shred unwanted documents that contain personal information.
The phishing scheme is also appearing on multiple blog sites. Following is a representative example of the type message BBB research and investigation has discovered on a number of blog sites.

“We've enhanced web surfing process with new security measures to keep your online data and personal information safer.All registered and new BBB consumers must register new software and update contact information until October 24, 2008.”Please read the following information carefully>>>Link >>>>

BBB is advising consumers and businesses to take the following precautions and actions to steer clear of this phishing attack and to protect their computer systems and networks.

• Anyone receiving an e-mail similar to those described should not open the message, not click on any links, or respond to the message – the message is not from any entity affiliated with BBB. Opening or viewing a preview of the e-mail, or clicking on the link within the e-mail, could enable a discreet download of a virus or spyware.

• Report receipt of any such messages. BBB is working with the U.S. Secret Service's Electronic Crimes Task Force (ECTF) to address phishing issues using the BBB name. BBB has established an e-mail address - phishing@council.bbb.org – people can use to forward the message to, thereby reporting the incident to BBB and the ECTF.

• The public can view updates and the latest information on the phishing attack on the BBB Web site at the Security and Alerts Web page at http://www.bbb.org/securityalerts.

About BBBBBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization’s high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability ReportsTM and charity BBB Wise Giving ReportsTM, and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 125 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring nearly 4 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit www.bbb.org for more information about BBB.

Working on the problem...

isn't as easy as it sounds. If you've ever called a utility company, you know what I'm talking about. Countless minutes (or more) on hold, countless transfers, countless explanations that mean nothing in the end...press this number if you want..., talk to this department, that's not our department. UGH! So with much frustration and a little bit of progress, I believe I have found the reason for the phone book omission. But, that won't help for this issue. I am working on making sure that we are at this point at least listed in 411.

I even had one department tell me "that number is disconnected. " "Really, I'm using it now," I said. Dead silence on the other end...sometimes you feel "vindicated" when they have no comeback to an obvious misspeak (if there is such a word) on their part!

Thank you for your patience while I get to the bottom of this and for helping spread the word with our information - it is working!

Phone: 413-282-0054
Fax: 413-282-0055

The new phone book is here but...

we've been omitted from the White Pages!  I am no more surprised than anyone else.  Last year it was the Yellow Pages and this year it's the White Pages.   I don't know why but I will have to try to figure it out...although it won't get fixed for this book, maybe we'll have it right for the next one.  It was brought to my attention too that we are not in "411", seeing the phone book, that might explain it.

In the meantime, I ask that you share our phone number and other contact information with your friends, etc.

Our phone:  413-282-0054

Our fax: 413-282-0055

Thanks for your help and understanding.  We are here and we do have a phone!

Countdown to Halloween...

only a week from tonight we will have a "bird eye" view of the Annual Rag Shag parade! I hope that the weather is warmer though...brrrr! It's fun to watch all the little ones march by the store in their Halloween garb!

Starting Saturday, October 25th, we will begin welcoming "trick or treaters" with goodies! Stop in before Halloween and get a trick, I mean a treat!

Also, from now until Halloween, our remaining inventory of costumes is on sale - save $5 on each costume. (All sales are final!) Come in early for the best selection - have a variety of cute little girl outfits (waitress, hula girl) as well as some Hip Hop costumes and some classy dress you can dress up (or down) to suit your particular needs. Come in and save today!

On Halloween, we will be closing at 4pm...have a safe and Happy Halloween!

They're here!

And we're excited to have them...have we peaked your curiosity? We have the brand new Madagascar Beanie Babies! Madagascar 2, Escape to Africa opens in theaters on November 7th. Get your Madagascar Beanie Babies before the movie! Stop in today to see them in person - so cute!

Looking for a Unique, Handmade Gift for that hard to buy for person?

Look no further...we have Bay Pottery and Candle Pots. Bay Pottery and CandlePots create wonderfully artistic functional porcelain works for the discriminating customer. For more than thirty years skilled artisans at Bay Pottery have been crafting useful ware beautifully enhanced by exquisite high-fired reduction glazes formulated and blended with great care in our studios. Bay's non-absorbent vitrified and stain proof clay and glazes are designed to be superior in durability and functionality. Made from only the finest materials, Bay's works are lead-free, food-safe, oven-safe, microwave-safe, dishwasher-safe and thermal shock resistant. Each creation comes with an informational card and beautiful label.


Come in and see our selection of both Bay Pottery and Candle Pots. All Bay Pottery and Candle Pots are 20% off, now through November 30th.


Stock up and save for the holidays!

Halloween is coming but so is...

dare I say it? Christmas! I am sure that's not at the top of everyone's list right now given the economy. But, I have to admit that given the economy it has moved to the top of my list. Sales have always been "my thing" but now more than ever I am paying closer attention to those sales, as I am sure you are as well. Also on my mind is making sure that my family has Christmas "as usual."

I am keeping that in mind as we order gifts for the holiday season. We are focusing on practical yet economical gifts for the dancer in your life. These gifts are suitable for stocking stuffers as well as gift-giving.

In addition, we will have our Annual Day After Thanksgiving Sale...we will have lots of items on sale...although we won't be open at 5am, we will be open normal store hours that day - 10 am - 7 pm. FREE gifts will be a part of the sale that day as well - it is an item that you can use, it's practical. Save it and give it as a gift or treat yourself and use it.

Our goal this holiday season is to help you give the dancer in your life the "usual" Christmas can still stay within your budget.....

Change of Seasons means...

dry, flaky skin. Instead of the conventional treatments which contain chemicals we can't even pronounce, why not try a natural alternative - Goat's Milk! Yes, you read it here first, an Avon Representative (me), is endorsing a non-Avon product for skin care. Why? Not everyone can use Avon, and believe it or not, I learned about the products from an Avon customer (thank you, Mary B!) because she isn't able to use a lot of the Avon skin care because of her super-sensitive skin to all the chemicals. She found the product in Maine while on vacation and asked me if I'd carry it so she didn't have to travel to Maine to get it - LOL! So, I looked into it and here we are, authorized dealers for Canus Goat's Milk Products.

Did you know? Goat's milk has long been recognized as a natural skin moisturizer and rejuvenator. Goat's milk is also naturally homogenized. In the preparation of our soaps and skin care products, we only use fresh goat's milk. Many goat's milk skin care products utilize powdered milk which is stable and far easier to store. We feel that the high heat used in the dehydration process somehow changes the structure of the milk, and that using fresh milk produces a better feeling on the skin. © Canus Goat's Milk 2000-2008

Did you also know? Canus Goat's Milk Products are now "going to the dogs"? The company has developed a line of all-natural goat's milk products for dogs - from puppies to seniors. The products are called "Nature's Dog by Canus." Click to read the press release about the line.

Now through November 30th, mention that you read about Canus Goat's Milk products on our blog and you will receive a 20% discount on your 1st purchase! So save your dry, flaky skin and save money too! It's a win-win!

With a chill in the air...

it means that fall is really here. And with fall, I always think of candles. Candles add a warm glow as well as wonderful fragrances, especially my favorite "Macintosh." You're probably wondering where this is leading, right? Well, it's a shameless plug for the wonderful candles we have at the store. Did you know we have candles?

I'm proud to carry Equus Candles Soy Candles - made from a high quality, pure, organic soybean wax. They are a highly fragrant candle! A variety of products are available including:
* 16 oz jars that burn for 150 hrs or longer. (These are what a currently available in the store.)
* 65 oz apple or pumpkin canisters that contains three wicks. They burn for over 450 hrs.
* 2oz. votives that burn for 15 hrs.

All of their glass is food quality and reusable to store your favorite items. Their 100% cotton wicks are self trimming. They use cork lids because cork is biodegradeable so none of their products pollute our Earth!

The Benefits of Burning Soy Candles:
* it's organic not a fossil fuel!
Organic means plant based, this means:
* burns cleaner and longer
* virtually no soot and
* burns at a lower temperature
* grown by American agriculturists therefore your purchases helps the USA's economy
* spills clean up with soap and warm water

Stop in today to see these candles and smell the wonderful fragrances. They are sure to brighten up your home on a chilly fall day/night. And, if you mention that you read about them on our blog, you can enjoy a Buy One/Get One 1/2 Price Sale! (Buy one candle at full price and get the 2nd candle at 1/2 price).

Celebrate and Save!

Celebrate Rick's Birthday and save! Stop in on October 15th between 10am and 7pm to wish Rick a "Happy Birthday" and you will save 15% on an item of your choice*. It's his special day and you get the present!


* Restrictions apply - one discount per person. Limited to store stock only. Not valid on previous purchases.

Store Announces ~ "Pink Fridays"

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With that in mind, we are proud to announce the creation of “Pink Fridays” at the store. Every Friday during the month of October for every person who comes in wearing pink, the store will donate $1 to Relay for Life. And, for every person who purchases something pink, the store will donate $2 to Relay for Life.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature activity. It offers everyone in a community an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Relays are an overnight event, up to 24 hours in length. Teams of people from all walks of life have fun while raising much-needed funds to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.

This will be the 2nd year that Mary Ann’s Dance and More has participated in the Hampshire County Relay for Life as a team. Last year they walked in honor of and in memory of family members and friends. Mary Ann’s Dance and More welcomes new members to their team as well.

Tips for Beautiful Ballet Hands

Here are some tips for beautiful ballet hands ~ excerpted from Pointe October/November 2008

* Your line extends from your fingertips to the tips of your toes. Your hands, just like your feet, can make or break your line.
* Your arm doesn't end at the wrist. Continue the line of your arm through your hands and fingers.
* Maintain energy in your fingers. Picture rays of light shooting from your fingertips.
* The hands often betray tension. Disguise the difficulty of a step by keeping your hands soft and relaxed.
* Less is more. Wildly aggrandized port de bras looks unprofessional.
* Study how different styles of ballet use the hands to help you adapt to different teachers and choreography.

Do Floor Surfaces Impact a Dancer?

Absolutely! Here's how:

An excessively "SLIPPERY FLOOR" will cause the dancer to tighten up his/her foot muscles (as well as other muscles) while attempting to hold onto the floor.

A "STICKY FLOOR" (one with too much traction) causes added resistance to movement (especially noticeable on spins and pivots), with the potential for resulting muscle fatigue as well as greater probability of falls and injuries.

Dancing, walking or even standing on a "SLOPING SURFACE" requires many adjustments in postural alignment and movement, thus placing increased stress on joints and soft tissue. Dancing on a "SLOPING SURFACE" increases the potential for injury. This is particularly problematic for the dancer who is fatigued or simply out of condition.


(Excerpted from Dr. Louis DeCaro's "Foot Care for the Dancer" Workshop)

Did you know?

There are 26 bones, 29 joints, 31 muscles, and numerous ligaments, tendons, arteries, and veins in the human foot. (Excerpted from Dr. Louis DeCaro's "Foot Care for the Dancer" Workshop)

With all those intricate parts as the foundation of your body, there are lots of things that can contribute to injuries in the dancer. Therefore, our next few blog entries will take a look at more of Dr. DeCaro's enlightening information and tips.

Thank you Dr. DeCaro!

Did you know?

Did you know that we carry greeting cards? We have all occasion cards for $1 each (plus tax). Each card and envelope is individually shrink-wrapped to keep it neat and clean!

Stop in today and mention you read about the cards on our blog and get one card FREE when you purchase one card (a BOGO offer!).

Are you preparing for a holiday performance?

'Tis the season for holiday performance preparations. We have something that will help...Costume Quick Fix Kits.

If you are in a performance this holiday season, be prepared for the unexpected costume "malfunctions" backstage with a Costume Quick Fix Kit. (Psst...these kits also make a great gifr for dance teachers and back stage hands too!)

These kits are available in 2 sizes ~

The Small Kit Contains:

* Adhesive Bandages

* Cotton Swabs

* Safety Pins

* Sewing Kit with Small Scissors

* Small Package of Tissues

* Bobby Pins

The Large Kit Contains:

* Includes All Items in Small Kit Plus:

* Double-Sided Tape

* Small Roll of Duct Tape

* Self-Sticking Bandage

* Small Flashlight

* Breakable Ice Pack

* Red Lipstick

* Hairspray

* Spray Bottle for Water

* Hairnets

* Black Permanent Marker

Did you know?

LOCAL DANCE APPAREL AND SUPPLY STORE ANNOUNCES CREATION OF USED CLOTHING OUTLET AT THEIR CURRENT LOCATION
Easthampton, MA , October 1, 2008 – Mary Ann’s Dance and More, located at 56 Cottage Street in Easthampton , is pleased to announce that they have created a section in their store devoted to gently used dance wear. The Dance Closet at Mary Ann’s Dance and More is the place to sell the too small & earn credit towards the purchase of new or gently used replacements! It is also the place to purchase quality used items at reasonable prices.

Mary Ann’s Dance and More was looking for a way to help parents and dancers in these tough economic times. The Dance Closet at Mary Ann’s Dance and More is currently accepting all types of dance wear and shoes. Items must be in style (less than 2 years old), must be in almost new/gently used condition, freshly laundered and stain/wrinkle-free. Credits, in the form of a store credit voucher, are then issued toward the purchase of new or gently used items in the store. Value is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Mary Ann’s Dance and More welcomes all to visit their website – www.MaryAnnsDanceandMore.com – or to visit the store for more information on The Dance Closet. Mary Ann’s Dance and More is here to help!

Mary Ann’s Dance and More, opened in August of 2007, as the vision of Mary Ann Hanlon and her husband, Richard Hanlon. Mary Ann’s Dance and More is a retail outlet for dance apparel and supplies, fitness apparel, unique gift items and more. Mary Ann’s Dance and More strives to provide area dancers, studio owners (dance, yoga and fitness) a retail outlet with greater customer service by offering a variety of services. Mary Ann’s Dance and More is the only location offering customers the opportunity to purchase dance apparel and supplies and fitness apparel as well as experience free skin care consultations, color consultations and make-overs from a Certified Avon Beauty Advisor.

#####

Need your help!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jonas Toutant
Phone: 413-364-4862
Email: jonas@Meta-Magician.com

Magician Makes People’s Dreams Come True

Local magician Jonas Cain Toutant premiers his latest production, a magical play entitled It Just Happened The Other Day: A True Story, at the Blake Theatre at City Stage in downtown Springfield on Saturday November 1 at 8PM. A non-traditional magician, this production features Toutant performing magic to tell a poignant love story, including such demonstrations as card tricks performed while restrained in a straightjacket, needle swallowing and a snowstorm. But perhaps this magician’s greatest trick of all is making people’s dreams come true.

This November 1 premier is also the kickoff event for the Stephanie Parker Foundation (SPF), a non-profit organization founded in memory of Toutant’s friend Stephanie Parker, a 26 year old woman who passed away suddenly and very unexpectedly in her sleep on Wednesday September 5, 2007. The goal of the SPF is to help groups and individuals to achieve their dreams; whether it is a high school student wishing to go to college, an individual dreaming of starting his or her own business, or perhaps a young couple just married wanting to buy their first home, the SPF wants to make sure that these people are provided with all of the resources they need to realize their dreams.

“Many years ago I once asked Stephanie what she wanted to do with her life,” says Toutant, founder of the SPF, “and she told me, ‘I want to be everything I want to be and anything there is to be.’ Some people interpret her answer to mean that she didn’t really know what she wanted, but I believe that it meant that deep down in her soul she knew that she didn’t have much time promised in this physical life; and knowing that, she truly did want to do it all while she was here. Or as Stephanie so eloquently put it, ‘Just live in the moment and enjoy.’”

The other purpose of the SPF is to help create health awareness, specifically regarding family history and the side effects of medications. This is a most important aspect of the foundation, for if Stephanie was more aware of these things herself she perhaps would still be alive today.

Toutant has been practicing magic for the past twenty years, and is the resident magician at Samuel’s Sports Bar at the Basketball Hall of Fame. Earlier this year he performed for the New England Patriots football team at their post Super Bowl Party in Scottsdale, Arizona, and most recently attended a masters class at the McBride Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Everything I’ve done up to this point has lead me to this wonderful purpose,” says Toutant, “but this new show belongs to Stephanie just as much as it belongs to me.”

Each time It Just Happened The Other Day: A True Story is performed fifty percent of the money earned will be donated directly to the SPF. Tickets are available now through all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling the City Stage Box Office at 413-788-7033. For more information on The Stephanie Parker Foundation please call 866-294-2871. For more information on Jonas Cain Toutant visit his website at www.Meta-Magician.com.

###
Check out Jonas's site - http://www.meta-magician.com/

Performance Announcement!

Ron Freshley Quintet Jazz Concert

October 11th 8pm Ron Freshley, Composer, Alto & Tenor Sax
Jay Jackson, Drums
Jeff D’Antona, Keyboard
Karl Rausch, Guitar
David Wertman, Bass
Bossas ~ Calypsos ~ Ballads ~ Sambas ~ Straight ahead tunes
A live recording concert of original Ron Freshley Compositions
Great for listening and dancing, too!
Saturday, October 11th 8 - 11 pm
Northampton Friends Meeting Center
43 Center St. 2nd Floor
Northampton
Admission:
Sliding Scale $8 - $12

Ron Freshley has been playing and composing music in the valley and elsewhere for over 30 years. He has also been the DJ of "Fresh Sounds" on WMUA (91.1) since 2004.