Fresh!

(StatePoint) If you’re a new college or high school graduate, you may have been told by older relatives that the best way to launch your career is to get a decent job and stick with it. But many experts today warn that the expectation of relying on one company to employ you until you retire is no longer realistic.  “The traditional path that worked for your grandparents is not necessarily viable anymore,” says Larry Winters, founder and president of Leadership Team Development, Inc., a company that provides business support materials for Amway business owners in North America. As the author of the new book “Live the Dream – No More Excuses,” Winters believes that with the right attitude and a solid plan, you can take control of your financial destiny. He offers these tips for new graduates inspired to make this commitment:

  REVIEW BY VERONICA DECKER   I have this horrible habit of honking with laughter. You know, that single, blaring “HANH” that comes from the soul and can be heard above every other laugh in the room. Well, the cast of Yorktown Stage’s A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum experienced the pleasure of my jubilation first-hand at a preview performance. Directed by Yorktown Stage Managing Director Barry Liebman, this early Stephen Sondheim vaudeville-style musical derived from the farces of Plautus has “something [hysterical] for everyone”. Roman slave Pseudolus (pronounced with a silent “P”, played by the versatile Liebman) desires nothing more than to be “Free” from the metaphorical chains that bind him to the house of Senex (rollicking Doug DeMarco of Putnam Valley). So when Senex’s hopelessly romantic son Hero falls in love with the pure-but-paid-for Philia (vocally gifted Christine Gavin of Ossining), Pseudolus sees an opportunity to be “a Roman with [his] head unbowed” as he’s always imagined. Add a house of courtesans, a gaggle of geese, mistaken identities, and children stolen in infancy by pirates, and you’ve got a glimpse of exactly what happened on the way to the forum.

(StatePoint) The way you light your home could be putting a needless strain on your pocketbook and the planet. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, if every household replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light three million homes for a year, trim $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent nine billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions yearly.  And just think how much you can save if you swapped all your old incandescent light bulbs for new, energy-efficient ones.

Next up at Yorktown Stage on April 14, 15, 21 and 22 is A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Tony award-winning musical that, according to producer, director, and lead actor Barry Liebman, is about two things: laughter and sex. Set in ancient Rome, the musical tells the story of Pseudolus, a slave who schemes to win freedom by helping his innocent, young master elope with the innocent, young courtesan living next door. When an arrogant, fierce Roman captain comes to claim the young woman, the fun begins.  “Is the show bawdy? Absolutely!” says Mr. Liebman.  “The writers, Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, could be considered the Trey Parker and Matt Stone [of South Park and The Book of Mormon] of their time. In 1962, they were pushing comic limits, so now Forum is a show that families, especially those with older children and young adults, will enjoy.” 

New York Statte Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (District 40) encourages residents to go shopping and receive a state sales tax exemption of 4% on all clothing, footwear, and related items costing less than $110. The tax-free offer was preceded last year by an exemption on clothing under $55; this year’s exemption started on April 1.

If you like musical theater and know the hilarious, tuneful A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the Yorktown Stage production (evenings April 14 & 21, matinees Aprikl 15 & 22) is a show you won't want to miss (www.yorktownstage.org; 914 962-0606). If you are not familiar with Forum, you definitely don't want to pass up the opportunity to have a bunch of belly laughs watching this wacky show by Larry Gelbart (of M*A*S*H TV fame) and Burt Shevelove, with magical, hummable music by the one and only Stephen Sondheim. (CLICK 'READ MORE' BELOW POSTER TO SEE REST OF ARTICLE)

BY RABBI YEHUDA HEBERCHABAD OF YORKTOWN This Friday evening, April 6, is the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The holiday spans eight days, ending Saturday evening, April 14. Some of the Passover observance rituals include not eating leavened bread, and to have a seder (Passover meal) complete with matza, bitter herbs, and 4 cups of wine on the first two nights of the holiday (Friday and Saturday evenings.)  

 ‘Legally Blonde the Musical' high kicks its long legs -- on the heels of a perennially popular movie comedy and Broadway version -- into Westchester Broadway Theater Mar. 29-April 29.  Based on the hit movie, Legally Blonde is a fresh and effervescent evening of musical fun, stylishly wrapped up in a smart pink bow!  When Sorority girl, Elle Woods (Kelly D. Felthous) is dumped by her boyfriend, Warner Huntington III. (Robert Patric Ryan), she decides to get "serious" to win her boyfriend back. He is off to college to study law and wants a girlfriend who will be able to support him in his chosen career.  Check out our website:  www.BroadwayTheatre.com.

February 27th, 2012 -- (StatePoint) Do you ever leave the house feeling like you forgot something? Life is full of little details, and if you are running an entire household, you may find it overwhelming to keep everything in order.  Luckily, modern technologies that can help you organize those details are becoming more affordable.  “When it comes to managing your home, it’s all about modernization and simplicity,” says Jamie Elgie, Senior Director of Product Management at Belkin, a maker of connectivity devices and accessories. “Where it’s possible, let new technologies do some of the thinking and heavy lifting for you.”  Here are some easy tips to update your home for a more simplified life:

February 23rd, 2012 -- (StatePoint) New parents have a lot to think about. From setting up the nursery, to picking out a name, there are so many details to consider, both small and large. Here are some tips to make your baby’s arrival easier: Prepare Your Household Bringing home a baby is going to shake things up for every member of your household, so you should get everyone ready for the change. Doctors suggest exposing pets to the smells and sounds of babies in advance of your child’s arrival. Playing a recording of baby noises, and letting your pooch smell baby lotions will help him know what to expect....

What’s Your  Carbon Footprint?  (StatePoint) Did you know that simple tweaks to your lifestyle can go a long way toward reducing your carbon footprint?  By lowering the amount of greenhouse gas emissions you cause in your daily activities, you’ll not only do the right thing for the planet, you should save some money too.  Start by sealing up drafts to optimize your heating and cooling. Turn off and unplug appliances that are not in use. And use natural gas for cooking, water heating, home heating, drying clothes and in your fireplace. Natural gas reduces your home’s carbon footprint an average of 46 percent.  To learn your carbon footprint, and more about how to reduce it, visit www.epa.gov .

BY LESLIE TAYNE For many Americans, living with debt became a way of life long ago. Having a balance on their credit cards was just another part of the game. In today’s world of continued economic instability, however, those days are indeed past. Job insecurity, rising costs and worries of an uncertain future have spurred many to shift their outlook on dealing with their finances. With 2012 newly upon us, now is the perfect time to take control of your financial situation by resolving your debt in the New Year. According to CardWeb.com, the average U.S. household with at least one credit card has approximately $10,700 in credit card debt. Like gaining weight, accumulating debt is not usually something that happens overnight. Ridding yourself of debt takes time, too, and a real commitment. Take a deep breath – it is possible – and more than worth the effort.