Free White Paper Informs Bar Manufacturers How to Formulate with All-Natural, Clean-Label Sweeteners

 Nutrition bars have come a long way since hitting the food scene in the late 1970s.
Considered the ultimate healthy food, many of the first bars to market were made
 from granola, corn syrup, nuts and fruit. Today's consumers demand more nutrition,
reduced sugar and minimal processing —
 all of which pose unique challenges to experts in research and development.

To assist manufacturers in formulating bars that contain more naturally, nutritionally and
texturally rich ingredients — which bring a variety of stability, humectancy, binding,
browning and flavor-profile issues — Steviva Ingredients has developed a white paper,
"Clean Label – Sugar Reduction in Bars."

To download the free white paper, please visit: http://www.stevivaingredients.com/press/CleanLabelSugarReductionBars.pdf.
For more information on Steviva Ingredients' clean-label sugar reduction services
and solutions, please visit: www.stevivaingredients.com or contact
 Thom King at 310-455-9876 or thom.king@steviva.com. 
About Steviva Ingredients:
Steviva Ingredients Inc. is a global ingredient supplier with a focus on
 all-natural, high-intensity sweeteners and custom sweetening solutions
 for manufacturers.  Steviva Ingredients sweeteners and bulk ingredients
 are all-natural, GMO-free, soy-free, corn-free and allergen-free.
 More information about Steviva Ingredients is available at: www.stevivaingredients.com.
Contact: 
Cheryl Tessier, APR, 608-695-6510, Email 
Thom King, 310-455-9876, Email

ACRES OF DAFFODILS AND DOGWOODS, PEONIES AND PERENNIALS PROMISE A SPRING SPECTACULAR IN WESTERN CONN

It’s no wonder that Western Connecticut is a magnet for flower lovers each spring. Ten acres of daffodils, seven acres of peonies, a neighborhood where thousands of dogwoods bloom and a famous nursery’s multi-acre display garden make for a spectacular start to the season in this scenic region of the state. And all of the displays are open free to the public.
The beauty begins early in April at the Laurel Ridge Foundation near Litchfield. The 10,000 daffodil bulbs sowed here in 1941 have multiplied many times to form a sea of yellow and white carpeting acres of woodland fields. Everyone is invited to enjoy the scene during blooming season through May, when grounds are open from dawn to dusk. The area is closed the rest of the year. The Laurel Ridge Foundation is located on Wigwam Road, off Route 254 in Northfield, near Litchfield. See details at litchfielddaffodils.com
Just in time for a special Mothers Day outing, the 81^st annual Dogwood Festival May 6 to 8 will light up the historic Greenfield Hill neighborhood in Fairfield. Plantings that began way back in 1705 have grown to prodigious numbers that canopy the byways of this lovely area. Besides the  dogwoods, the festival offers New England artisans and crafters, an art show, a tag sale, a plant boutique, live music, and children’s activities. Greenfieldhillschurch.com
Mid-May brings the annual Peony Festival, a Technicolor floral show in Thomaston, where Cricket Hill Gardens is celebrating its 27^th anniversary as a prize source for these big, beautiful blossoms. The family-owned gardens are a prime source for rare Chinese tree peonies. among the largest and most colorful of all flowers. Over 400 varieties can be seen in the seven acre peony display garden, along with a demonstration orchard of fruit trees such as Asian pears, pawpaws, persimmons, quinces, and heirloom apples. Tree peonies are expected to bloom this year from the third week of May to early June, followed by herbaceous peonies and intersectional peonies, to the third week of June. The public is invited during this peak season, when Cricket Hill will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. treepeony.com
Litchfield’s White Flower Farm, one of American’s leading mail order sources for bulbs and perennials, opens its many acres of extravagant display gardens with tulips and other seasonal blooms beginning in April. It remains beautiful with changing seasonal displays through October. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Whiteflowerfarm.com

For more information about spring gardens and a free copy of Unwind, a full-color, 152-page booklet detailing what to do and see, and where to stay, shop and dine in the Litchfield Hills and Fairfield County in Western Connecticut, contact the Western Connecticut Visitors Bureau, PO Box 968, Litchfield, CT 06759, (860) 567-45606, or visit their web site at www.visitwesternct.com

Weight Watchers® Frozen Novelties Unveils New Products and More Snack-Size Portions

Brand's Ice Cream Innovations Reflect New Focus on Holistic Health

LE MARS, Iowa, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Weight Watchers® Frozen Novelties
 has introduced a variety of ice cream innovations to support members of Weight Watchers
International, Inc. specifically, and "better for you" ice cream fans, universally. 

Weight Watchers recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with Oprah Winfrey
as a member, board member, adviser and owner in tandem with the launch of the new
Beyond the Scale program.  In alignment with this focus on holistic health, Weight Watchers
 Frozen Novelties will introduce three new ice cream varieties and more convenient
snack-size portions for consumers who want to treat themselves while still making smart choices. 
The new line of 12 Weight Watchers Frozen Novelties range between 45 and 90 calories
 per treat, have low saturated fat and no artificial sweeteners.  Also, the ice cream novelties
 account for two to four SmartPoints™ value per treat; the new SmartPoints system
introduced as part of Weight Watchers'
  Beyond the Scale program.  These new Weight Watchers offerings will be
available at retail stores with a suggested retail price of $4.99 per carton.
"While Weight Watchers ice cream novelties are low in calories and saturated fat,
 they are big in taste.  From trendy mint and mocha latte flavors to our long-standing
 favorite fudge flavors, Weight Watchers Frozen Novelties deliver delicious ice cream
 treats at only 4 SmartPoints™ value or less," said Jill Feuerhelm,
Senior Brand Manager, Weight Watchers Frozen Novelties.  "We are excited to
 introduce on-trend flavors and more snack-size offerings to meet consumers
desire to treat their sweet tooth for low SmartPoints™ values.
New products including Dark Chocolate Mint, Snack-Size Salted Caramel and 
Snack-Size Mocha Latte Ice Cream Bars join a line-up of bona fide fan favorites
 such as Giant Chocolate Fudge, English Toffee Crunch and Dark Chocolate
 Raspberry Ice Cream Bars.  Existing varieties including Peanut Butter Caramel
 Ice Cream Candy Bars, Divine Triple Chocolate and Cookies & Cream
Ice Cream Bars will now be available in snack-sized portions.  
The 2016 Weight Watchers complete Frozen Novelty product portfolio includes:

• NEW Snack-Size Salted Caramel Ice Cream Bars (4 SmartPoints™ value;
•  80 calories per bar) – Caramel flavored low fat ice cream with a salted caramel 
•  swirl and a milk chocolate flavored coating
• NEW Snack-Size Mocha Latte Ice Cream Bars (2 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 45 calories per bar) – Chocolate and latte flavored low fat ice cream swirled together
• NEW Dark Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Bars (3 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 60 calories per bar) – Mint low fat ice cream dipped in a dark chocolate
•  flavored coating
• Giant Chocolate Fudge Bars (4 SmartPoints™ value; 90 calories per bar) –
•  Chocolate low fat ice cream
• English Toffee Crunch Ice Cream Bars (4 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 70 calories per bar) – Toffee flavored low fat ice cream dipped in a
•  milk chocolate flavored coating with toffee pieces
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Ice Cream Bars (3 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 60 calories per bar) – Raspberry flavored low fat ice cream dipped in a 
• dark chocolate flavored coating
• Snack-Size Chocolate Fudge Bars (2 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 45 calories per bar) – Chocolate low fat ice cream
• Snack-Size Peanut Butter Caramel Ice Cream Candy Bars 
• (4 SmartPoints™ value; 80 calories per bar) – Peanut butter low 
• fat ice cream topped with caramel and peanuts and a milk chocolate 
• flavored coating
• Snack-Size Divine Triple Chocolate Bars (4 SmartPoints™ value;
•  80 calories per bar) – Chocolate low fat ice cream with a fudge swirl and 
• milk chocolate flavored coating
• Snack-Size Cookies & Cream Ice Cream Bars (4 SmartPoints™ value; 
•  90 calories per bar) – Vanilla low fat ice cream with a fudge swirl and a 
•  chocolate flavored cookie crunch coating
• Snack-Size Double Caramel Swirl Ice Cream Cones (4 SmartPoints™ value; 
• 90 calories per cone) – Caramel flavored low fat ice cream with a caramel 
•  swirl in a sugar cone topped with chocolate curls
• Snack-Size Vanilla Fudge Swirl Ice Cream Cones (4 SmartPoints™ value; 
•  90 calories per cone) – Vanilla flavored low fat ice cream with a chocolate 
•  fudge swirl in a sugar cone topped with chocolate curls

About Wells Enterprises, Inc. and Weight Watchers Frozen NoveltiesWells
 Enterprises, Inc. is the licensed manufacturer of Weight Watchers Frozen Novelties.
 Wells Enterprises is the largest privately held, family-owned ice cream and frozen treat
manufacturer in the United States.  The company was founded in 1913 and is
 headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, the Ice Cream Capital of the World. Wells
produces more than 1,100 ice cream and frozen novelty products, including its
signature brand, Blue Bunny^® and the iconic Bomb Pop^®.
 For more information visit WellsEnterprisesInc.com.
About Weight Watchers International, Inc.Weight Watchers International, Inc.
 is the world's leading commercial provider
of weight management services, operating globally through a network of
Company-owned and franchise operations. Weight Watchers holds more
than 32,000 meetings each week where members receive group support
and learn about healthy eating patterns, behavior modification and physical
activity. Weight Watchers provides innovative, digital weight management
products through its websites, mobile sites and apps. Weight Watchers is
the leading provider of paid digital subscription weight management
products in the world. In addition, Weight Watchers offers a wide range
of products, publications and programs for those interested in weight loss
and weight control.

CONTACT: Deanna Dugo, Blue Chip Marketing Worldwide for Weight Watchers
 Frozen Novelties, 847.418.8094, ddugo@bluechipww.com

National Pensioners Federation | Federation Nationale des Retraites

Seniors and those who care about them will welcome the measures announced today in the federal budget. More needs to be done.

OTTAWA - The return of the OAS eligibility age to 65 has already been announced. This will be welcome news to those who were facing having to wait two extra years for their OAS benefit after struggling in their career. 
 An estimated 600,000 seniors live under the poverty line today and this is not expected to change unless more is done to provide better income supports and to reduce their critical expenses like home care and drug costs.  
Today’s federal budget contains welcome measures to:
 Increase the guaranteed income supplement [GIS] for single seniors beginning July 2016. Single seniors, especially women, face far greater rates of poverty compared to their counterparts in couples.  That will benefit 900,000 single seniors across Canada. While absolutely welcome, it is a maximum of just $2.60 more per day. Much more needs to be done to prevent poverty among seniors.

Introduce a Seniors Index for OAS and GIS to help them keep pace with their cost of living. However, while a welcome change, the index should actually help seniors keep pace with the standard of living and should be tied to wage rate increases.  

Also welcome is the $200 million over 2 years to fund seniors affordable housing - without requiring a cost match from the provinces - a major barrier in the past.. Secure housing is a major social determinant of health.
The funding of the Canadian foundation for Healthcare Improvement and for the Canadian Institutes of Health Information is a welcome investment provided that the Naylor report’s call for a patient focused approach to innovation is the centrepiece.

Unfortunately, the budget did not address several important promises:
Remove the requirement for a terminal diagnosis to qualify for the EI compassionate leave benefit and increase flexibility in how the benefit may be used. The requirement for a terminal diagnosis has in the past stopped people from applying for the compassionate leave benefit. In addition the flexibility in using the benefit better reflects how chronic illnesses play out. 
Invest $3 billion in home care and palliative care over X years. There is an immediate need for sustained funding and national standards on home care. The patchwork of palliative care must be addressed immediately and this new funding will be a major first step. 

The promise to join the Pan Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance [pCPA] will incrementally reduce the costs of many drugs. However a comprehensive National Pharmacare system is necessary in order to ensure that every Canadian is able to access needed medications regardless of income and postal code. 

The recent announcement to work with the provinces to find a consensus to increase the CPP is somewhat encouraging. However, indications from some of the provinces cause concern that the consensus will not be achieved in the near future. It may be necessary for the federal government to consider options such as the introduction of a national pension framework independent of the CPP process that provides a robust pension system and that gives each province greater flexibility on plan design (e.g., coverage and benefit levels) and timing of introduction (e.g., reflecting regional conditions).
Mandate an expert panel to consider a guaranteed annual income. Families Minister Jean-Yves Duclos welcomed the option of a guaranteed annual income as part of a anti-poverty strategy http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/guaranteed-income-has-merit-as-a-national-policy-minister-says/article28588670/ Already the Ontario government is prepared to study the idea. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-should-work-with-ontario-on-guaranteed-income-strategy-advocates/article28936544/
And the recommendation to explore the idea was contained in the Finance Committee’s pre-budget report http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/guaranteed-minimum-income-merits-further-study-pre-budget-report-says-1.3490157
National Pensioners Federation is a national, non partisan, non sectarian organization of 350 seniors chapters, clubs, groups, organizations and individual supporters across Canada with a collective membership of 1,000,000 seniors and retirees devoted entirely to the welfare and best interests of ageing Canadians.

For more information, please contact:
Herb John
President, National Pensioners Federation
(519) 350-3221
herb.john@npfmail.ca
www.nationalpensionersfederation.ca

Susan Eng
Counsel, National Pensioners Federation
(647) 988-3595

susan.eng.to@rogers.com

Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival 2016

Saturday, April 30, 2016

A Volunteer Lead Community Fundraising Event

The Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival is a fundraising day which supports needs within the community. All proceeds from this one day event are turned back to our schools, children’s music programs, library support, arena and community hall projects, girl guides and scouts, as well as helping many other projects where other financial sources are not available. Many volunteers and many, many hours of planning and behind the scenes effort have gone into preparing for this day. For over 4 decades, committees have sat and wondered what they could do to make the next Maple Syrup Festival better than the year before.

For many ex-Elmvalites and Georgian Bay Cottagers, the Festival Day develops into a HOME-COMING WEEKEND. What a great time to visit with friends and families as well as have a fun day at the Festival!

We thank all our volunteer helpers for their efforts in putting this day together for you. It is this selfless group who make the Festival possible; the planning committee who meet every month for 10 months; the men, women and children who tirelessly participate each year on Festival Day; the local businesses and organizations who donate so much, such as parking space, flowers, prizes etc.

Sincere thanks to our Sponsors and Partners whose financial support contributes to the success of our great Festival. We hope you enjoy yourself and come back to visit Elmvale and the beautiful country life we offer here.http://www.emsf.ca/

DecoBREEZE, one of the U.S.¹s fastest growing home décor companies, announced the launch of its new Modern collection of candles.

The new styles and fragrances of the Modern collection stimulate the senses with reminders of why spring is the time of new beginnings. DecoBREEZE¹s offerings are the perfect gift for anyone and add a chic touch to any home décor style. The new products will be available for purchase at DecoBREEZE.com and in select retailers and gift shops.

New Styles and Fragrances

NEO Modern Candle Collection by DecoFLAIR ­ Chic-mirrored, minimalist glass vessels filled with premium soy blend wax in pop decor colors with alluring fragrances - Available for $20.99.

Cassis Noir Candle ­ Contains succulent notes of cassis and blackberry, and flows with violet, rose, and plum

Amber Rose Candle ­ Contains notes of orange and lemon enhanced by scents of rose, gardenia, and lavender

Bamboo Lotus Candle ­ Contains notes of bamboo and lotus, balanced with lily, hyacinth, pink rose, white gardenia, green leaves, and a touch of spice

Honey Fig & Teak Candle ­ Contains hints of teakwood and honey complemented with dried fig notes and cassis

Lavender Moss Candle ­ Contains lavender flowers and chamomile scents with a hint of geranium and rose supported with moss and crushed eucalyptus

Red Coral Candle ­ Contains notes of blood orange and mandarin with red geranium, rose, and accents of raspberry leaves

Spring Blossom Candle - Contains hints of orange and cassis infused with pineapple, nectarine blossom, jasmine and neroli supported by sugar and musk 

Vanilla Absolute Candle ­ Contains hints of sugar, butter, and cocoa powder enhanced with fruity accents of berries

Geo-Mod Candle Collection by DecoFLAIR ­ Geometric patterns are a sophisticated way to add visual interest to a space. The candles are dipped in Chrome, Gold, Bronze, Gunmetal, or Rose Gold - Available for $18.99.

Geo-Mod Bronze Ceramic Honey Bourbon Candle ­ Contains hints of orange marmalade, tamarind, and honey infused with bourbon and clove

Geo-Mod Gold Ceramic Vanilla Absolute Candle - Contains hints of vanilla harmonized with sugar, butter, and cocoa powder, and enhanced with accents of berries 

Geo-Mod Gunmetal Ceramic Lavender Moss Candle - Contains hints of Lavender flowers and chamomile with geranium and rose supported with crushed eucalyptus

Geo-MOD Rose Gold Ceramic Citrus Blush Candle - Contains hints of bitter orange spiked with clove, cinnamon, pink peppercorns and red citrus

Geo-Mod Silver Ceramic Spring Blossom Candle - Contains hints of sparkling orange and cassis infused with pineapple, nectarine blossom, and jasmine

Metallux Candle Collection by DecoFLAIR ­ These metallic candles are not only beautiful decor accent pieces; they are filled with a premium soy blend wax and unique selection of fragrances in three colors: bronze/Honey Bourbon, rose gold/Citrus Blush or gold/Amber Rose - Available for $22.99.

Metallux Bronze Ceramic Honey Bourbon Candle - Contains hints of orange marmalade, tamarind, and honey infused with bourbon and clove, and layered by brown sugar

Metallux Gold Ceramic Amber Rose Candle ­ Contains hints of orange and lemon, which enhance the rose, gardenia, and lavender

Metallux Rose Gold Ceramic Citrus Blush - Contains hints of bitter orange with clove, cinnamon, and pink peppercorns combined with deep woods and birch

Aurecon launches ‘Just Imagine’ – a future focused blog, Global

Aurecon launches ‘Just Imagine’ – a future focused blog, Global

02 March 2016 - Imagine a world where the physical and digital interact seamlessly; where creativity is the new corporate currency; and where business minds take lessons from children when it comes to innovation. Aurecon’s new blog, Just Imagine, provides a glimpse into the future for curious readers.

“If businesses are to thrive in a future that is as yet unwritten, creativity must shape how they operate, and design and innovation are the tools that offer the solution,” says John McGuire, Aurecon’s Chief Innovation Officer.

For Aurecon, this means finding new ways to transform our clients’ businesses and help them become more competitive through innovation.

“Innovation is grounded on deep technical expertise, but it’s not enough to invest in being ‘smart’. We need to foster creativity, challenge the ‘status quo’, explore and experiment to envision what’s possible,” believes McGuire.

In line with this, the company’s new blog, Just Imagine, explores ideas that are probable, possible and for the imagination. Forward thinking, imaginative and innovative, the content is everything but the ordinary. It seeks to push the boundaries and imagine what might be possible if we challenge the status quo, asking “What if…?” and “Why not…?” across a broad spectrum of leadership and business theories and ideologies, technological innovations and processes.

“Aurecon’s followers on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are now well into the tens of thousands; and we’ve found these digital platforms a powerful way to share and connect with our staff, clients and stakeholders. The Just Imagine blog is a similarly powerful vehicle to engage with our audience around big picture thinking and ideas that will shape our collective future,” says Danielle Bond, Aurecon’s Head of Marketing and Communications.

everydayliving®: Farewell Financial & Consulting http://www.farewel...

everydayliving®: Farewell Financial & Consulting http://www.farewel...: James and his team have over 20 years of combined experience in accounting, finance, marketing, and business management. 

http://www.farewellfinancial.com/

everydayliving®: Chocolate Picnic Cake A crunchy oat topping comple...

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