BIZZ BUZZ

People over the age of 55 are being offered a free will writing service in May by three local law firms.   The service is part of a charity initiative called Free Wills Month, which aims to encourage people to include gifts of charity in their wills.  The project is being organized by five charities: Canadian Cancer Society, CNIB, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society, Canadian Red Cross and The Lung Association.  While there’s no obligation to leave a gift to one or more of these charities, the hope is that people recognize the opportunity to help these organizations.

At the launch of the program earlier this week, director Stephen Maund said he hopes the program will encourage people to include a charitable gift alongside gifts to family and friends in their wills.  “It’s a great opportunity to consult a local lawyer and to deal with a task that people often put off.”

Participating law firms are Coombs & Lutz; Hines & Stevens; Lawyers Orme; Frank M Raso Law Office; Robinson, McCallum, McKerracher, Graham; and Walker & Homer.  Individuals and couples aged 55 and over must contact one of these firms before May 31 to take advantage of the service, although the actual appointment can be held later.  For more information call 1-800-337-2884.

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Nurse Next Door has opened a local franchise dedicated to the Hamilton area.  Owned by Joy Baptiste, the franchise will address the health care needs of local seniors by providing a viable alternative to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.  “Our Nurse Next Door franchise allows us to ensure local seniors receive the care and attention they need in the comfort of their own home,” says Baptiste. 

The franchise offers a full spectrum of in-home care services, ranging from a few hours of companionship per week to 24-hour, round-the-clock nursing care.  For more information, call 905-518-7625 or visit nursenextdoor.com.

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A new, fine dining establishment is scheduled to open in Dundas next weekend.  Husband and wife team Fraser Macfarlane and Georgina Mitropoulos are opening Quatrefoil Restaurant at 16 Sydenham Street. 

Both longtime chefs, the pair met six years ago while both working at Toronto’s renowned Scaramouche Restaurant, before heading to Europe to seek out new food styles and experiences.  Now back at home, they are fulfilling a longtime dream of running their own restaurant.  “We wanted to be part of the growing movement to establish superior dining in Hamilton,” Mitropoulos says.

Together, the pair has cooked in some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, training under such notable chefs as Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and Gary Hollihead.  For more information call 289-808-6500 or visit quatrefoilrestaurant.com.

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Tricia Hellingman is president of Hellingman Communications, a Hamilton-based public relations and marketing agency.  You can email her at thellingman@hellingman.com.  BizzBuzz normally appears every other Friday.