how to guide

how to guide2010

5Consumer

Tips

1. Think about what kind of sewing you want to do. With so much to choose from, narrowing down your sewing needs will help you pick the right machine.

2. Decide on a budget and consider features you want on your machine. Machines range from less than $200 up to $12,000, so setting a budget and deciding on the features you want ahead of time will make selecting the perfect machine a breeze.

3. Look at, and try before you buy to compare the quality and construction of machines. Bernina Machines are rated No. 1, because of the quality of its construction and the type of materials used.

4. Know what your local support will be for whatever brand you buy. The Bernina Company still provides parts for 40-year old machines. We o� er service, parts and education for all your sewing dreams!

5. Follow through with the continuing education o� ered by the sewing machine dealer. This keeps your sewing skills current and your creative interests active - keep the synergy alive!

How to select a new sewing machine Like a car, boat, computer or home ste-

reo system, investing in a quality sew-ing machine is something you’ll want

to do some research about before making a purchase.

At � e Needle & I on Evergreen Way in Everett, owner Georgia Gale runs a 5,000-square-foot shop that features Bernina machines ranging in price from starter ma-chines that can be bought and out the door for less than $200, to the top-of-the-line ma-chines with all the bells and whistles that top out at $12,000.

Like with any big purchase, � nding the right match to meet your sewing needs isn’t something that should be done alone, so Gale and her sta� came up with � ve tips ev-eryone should consider before purchasing their dream machine.

Tip one is simple – think about what kind of sewing you want to do. Do you want a ma-chine that does embroidery? Do you want one for sewing garments? Do you want one that can do a perfect button hole? Do you want one that does decorative stitching and quilting? � ese are all questions that will have to be answered before making a decision.

Gale suggests people visit her store with a list of features they want from a machine, features they have questions about and fea-tures they don’t really need, so that she can � nd them the perfect match.

Once you � gure what you want, the next tip is deciding how much you want to spend. Gale suggests setting a budget with the un-derstanding that there are speci� c features you may have to give up or pay more for in order to meet your creative needs.

“Most machines have a price range that

will go up or down depending on the features you want to get,” Gale said. “We don’t want you locked into something you don’t want or need. We try our best to � t you to the ma-chine that meets your needs.”

Once a budget is set, then the third tip is coming into � e Needle & I to look at the various models and to compare the construc-tion of the machines. � ere is an opportunity for you to sit down and sew on the machines to get a good feel for what you like, and to test the quality of design and engineering that has made the Bernina brand the premier sewing machine in the world.

Bernina is a company that has never been bought or sold and still has its original plant operating in Switzerland, Gale said. “You want to remember that you always get what you pay for.”

What you’re paying for at � e Needle & I store is more than just a quality machine. Tip four is to know who you’re buying from. A� er your purchase, you will know you are dealing with a company that is not going to

disappear. Georgia Gale has been in the sew-ing machine industry for 35 years and has owned her own store for the last 5 years. Her sta� includes two published authors of quilt-ing books and everyone on the sales � oor sews and can help you with questions. Twice a year, � e Needle & I invites nationally rec-ognized teachers to visit and teach new tech-niques.

“People always like to hear what the big shots are doing,” Gale said. “It helps to broad-en customer knowledge.”

Of course once a machine purchase is made, you’ll want to take advantage of Gale’s � � h and � nal tip by continuing to expand your knowledge by attending in-store classes and trainings.

“Most people who buy a new machine al-ready know how to sew, but there is so much more you can do on these new machines,” Gale said. “� ese great features are what you pay for, so we do our best to make sure you take advantage of them.”

In addition to new machines, � e Needle & I also deals with “previously loved” machines. In fact, the shop is an all-in-one place for all your sewing needs. � ey o� er repair services on all machines, sell fabrics, machine acces-sories, sewing machine cabinets, threads and much more. � ere are 3,000 bolts of fabric, including the most popular batik fabrics.

For more information, visit the store’s website at www.theneedleandI.com, where you can see the latest Bernina models, sign up for the Needle News quarterly newsletter, check out the latest classes and get mapped directions to visit Gale and her sta� at � e Needle & I.

“Most people who buy a new machine already know how to sew, but there is so much more you can do on these new machines. � ese

great features are what you pay for, so we do our best to make sure you

take advantage of them.”- Georgia Gale, � e Needle & I owner

Georgia Gale

The Needle & I owner Georgia Gale shows o� the Bernina 830 sewing machine at her store on Evergreen Way in Everett.

Georgia Gale

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4727 Evergreen WayEverett, Washington 98203

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5Consumer

Tips1. First and foremost, “the best

wine is the wine you like the best”! Reds or whites, import, domestic or local Washington Wines - it doesn’t matter as long as it tastes good to you.

2. Taste before you buy! Attend in-store wine tastings, as o� ered by WineStyles.

3. Join a Wine Club. WineStyles has the wine club with a clubhouse! Our wine club is $34.99 per month.

4. Ask questions! At WineStyles we want you to ask us about our wines.

5. All wines are not created equal. Just because a wine comes from a certain grape does not mean it will taste like a wine made from the same grape.

How to make your wine selection a breeze

Everyone knows the Paci� c Northwest has become known for making qual-ity wines, but what people might not

know is that 2.8 miles o� I-5, at exit 199, is WineStyles, a 2,100-square-foot local busi-ness speci� cally designed to aid customers in selecting the perfect wine for any occa-sion. Known around Snohomish County as the Cheers of Marysville, owners Eric & Vicki Emery are the experts when it comes to � nding the perfect bottle. In fact, they have � ve tips that make wine selection e� ortless. Eric admits when it comes to knowing ev-eryone’s name like Cheers, it’s Vicki who has a superior memory, but he always remem-bers faces. And he’s seen quite a few since opening WineStyles in January 2008. “We weren’t wine people who came to Marysville, we were Marysville people who opened a wine shop,” Eric said. A retiree from the Navy, Eric continues to educate himself and store sta� about wine and they love to share that information with customers. Tip one is a simple one - listen to your pal-ette. “� e best wine is the wine you like the best,” Emery said. Put points, awards and other accolades aside when deciding what to like. Whatever tastes good to the buyer is the best, insists Emery. And � nding the best at WineStyles is easy because of the store’s unique layout. In-stead of being separated by brand, wines are stocked from � oor to ceiling by styles. � e styles are simple to � nd. For red wines, there’s fruity, mellow and bold styles on one wall. And for white wines, there’s rich, silky

and crisp on another. In the back of the store, there’s nectar, bubbly and signature sections. And if you insist, there’s a section titled “If You Insist” that features top shelf wine and bubbly like Dom Perignon and Cristal. But you won’t � nd much that breaks the bank because that’s not the WineStyles way. In fact, the store‘s top selling 20 wines are all under $14. “We like to show people that they can af-ford to have wine everyday with dinner and not go broke,” Emery said. To make it easy to � nd that perfect wine for dinner, Eric insists you try tip number

two - taste before you buy. He suggests at-tending an in-store wine tasting where for a small monetary commitment, you have the opportunity to identify wines most suited to your palate without having to buy the entire bottle. Tastings are held every Friday and Saturday night and on most Friday nights there will be a local wine maker answering questions. If local wines are your interest, then tip three will be more than appealing because WineStyles has its own wine club with a clubhouse. Emery suggests all customers take advantage of the store’s club by join-ing. For $34.99 a month, members receive two bottles of wine a month ($40 value).

Wines from Washington (March & Sept.) and around the world are part of the club bene� ts. In addition, members receive a 10 percent discount o� every bottle of wine they purchase. O� ering a worldwide variety isn’t surpris-ing because WineStyles is actually a world-wide franchise with chains reaching as far as Puerto Rico and Mexico City. Marysville’s shop is one of � ve currently operating in Washington state. � ere are a number of things that separate the WineStyles experience from a weekly stroll down the wine aisle at a grocery or li-quor store, but paramount is tip four - the opportunity to ask questions. “In this shop, there are no dumb questions, Emery said. “We learn more each day and we enjoy learning with our customers.” Connecting with customers has become a way of life for the Emerys. Eric is a member of the Marysville/Tulalip Chamber of Com-merce Board of Directors and the Marysville Planning Commission. WineStyles also con-nects with local restaurants and may waive their corking fees so that a wine can be pur-chased at the store and enjoyed at eateries throughout Marysville along with dinner at no additional cost. Finding the perfect wine for dinner can be tricky, but with the Emery’s � � h and � nal tip, you might � nd yourself coming back for more because Eric insists that all wines are not created equal. “If you like one wine … style, chances are you will like others from that same style.”

“We like to show people that they can a� ord to have wine

everyday with dinner and not go broke.”

-Eric Emery, WineStyles Owner

Eric Emery

WineStyles owners Eric & Vicki Emery display a style of wine o� ered at their Marysville store.

Eric Emery

(360) 658 48506608 64th St. NE, Suite AMarysville, WA 98270

LEARN WHAT YOU LIKE.

Taste, Learn, and Enj� :)www.winestyles.net/Marysville

We help you with Weddings,

Anniversaries, and other large

& small celebration orders.

weekly wine tastings

5Consumer

Tips

1. Start early and plan to move before it’s a necessity. Don’t wait for an accident or fall to happen before you consider moving to a retirement community.

2. Visit the community and stay overnight. Call the Olympic Place front desk (360-435-8440) to “Experience The Lifestyle” by scheduling a free overnight trial.

3. Talk to the residents and sta� . Visit Olympic Place and take some time to meet nurses, cooks and sta� members to discuss retirement options.

4. Try the food and participate in various activities. Take advantage of the community’s restaurant style menu and meet with activities director Lateasha Rybacki to see if Olympic Place meets your activity needs.

5. Find out more about the services o� ered and the levels of care provided. Get a complete list of services and pricing from Olympic Place Director of Marketing Christina Kitchen so that you can make an informed decision about your retirement community.

How to choose a retirement community

Remember how great childhood was? When someone was there to make your bed, cook your meals,

do your laundry and drive you where you wanted to go. Well, that’s kind of what it’s like at Olympic Place Retirement and As-sisted Living Community in Arlington, only better.

Olympic Place has 108 apartments rang-ing from 300- to 900-square-feet and the community is sta� ed with more than 40 employees to make sure there is always someone available 24 hours a day.

Olympic Place Director of Marketing Christina Kitchen admits that choosing a retirement and assisted living community can seem overwhelming at � rst, so she came up with � ve tips to consider before making that decision.

Tip one is to start early and plan to move before it’s a necessity.

“Most people don’t think about (moving) until it’s need based and they have more problems,” Kitchen said. “We want them to start those discussions before they ab-solutely need to, so they can enjoy life.”

Once those discussions are going, the next tip is simply to visit the community and stay overnight or what Olympic Place calls “Experience � e Lifestyle.” At the community, that “experience” everyone talks about is as easy as a quick phone call to the front desk (360-435-8440) to schedule a free trial stay.

“Most people have a natural fear of change,” Olympic Place Executive Di-

rector Marian Sanchez said. “Once they schedule a visit, get a good look at our community and see for themselves the various levels of care we o� er, they tend to � ourish. If you think about it, once they move in, they instantly have 115 new friends here.”

And getting to know the 115 current residents is encouraged at Olympic Place. � at’s why tip three is to talk to the resi-dents and sta� .

At Olympic Place, sta� includes a regis-tered nurse and a licensed practical nurse, as well as cooks and sta� members that of-fer restaurant style dining with an abun-dance of meal choices.

Kitchen advises visitors not to miss out on the community’s dining experience by taking advantage of tip four: to try the food and participate in various activities.

� at’s right, a� er a restaurant-style meal, there’s plenty to do around Olympic Place. And just because dining in is so easy and convenient, that doesn’t mean residents don’t go out to dinner.

Olympic Place Activities Director Lateasha Rybacki schedules as many as 12 di� erent activities in a single day, so there’s always something to do. � e com-munity has its own bus with wheelchair accessibility, so a night out on the town is just a quick bus ride away. Scenic drives, trips to the casinos and senior center, music events and visits to Jimmy’s Italian Restaurant are well attended, but there is a more serious activity nearly everyone at Olympic Place enjoy.

According to Rybacki, bingo night is still the residents’ favorite activity. Starting at a bet of just a quarter per game, the bingo purse winnings can grow to $4 a game, she said.

For those wanting to take advantage of the abundance of activities Olympic Place has to o� er, Kitchen suggests tip � ve — � nd out more about services o� ered and the levels of care provided.

Olympic Place can be there for seniors who need regular trips to the doctor, to provide someone who gives regular dia-betes and blood pressure checks and to educate residents about vision loss, � nan-cial planning and insurance through the community’s lecture series. And if some-one does have an incident or fall in their room, all they have to do is pull the cord located in their room and the front desk and nurse is instantly noti� ed.

“Most people come to stay and never want to move out,” Kitchen said. “� ey re-alize how much they love it and just stay.”

“Most people don’t think about (moving) until it’s need based and they have more problems. We want them to start those

discussions before they absolutely need to so they can enjoy life.”

-Christina Kitchen, Marketing Director

Stilly Singers perform for Olympic Place Retirement and Assisted Living community residents.

Christina Kitchen

20909 Olympic Place . Arlington, WA 98223

360.435.8440

{Life on your terms}Your home at Olympic Place offers you the choices you need to maintain your freedom, so you can enjoy life on your terms.

5Consumer

Tips

1. Your chiropractor should conduct a thorough exam including X-rays.

2. Conduct research before choosing your chiropractor just like you would to choose your doctor or dentist.

3. Along with years of experience, you might want to make sure your chiropractor is someone who is a longstanding and active citizen in the community.

4. Make sure your chiropractor takes insurance. It’s always wise to call ahead of the appointment to see if you’re � nancially covered by your current health care plan.

5. Same-day care is important. But, when choosing a chiropractic doctor, you should be cognizant if they provide long term care. Work with an “all-in-one” facility that o� ers massage and physical therapy.

How to choose the right chiropractor

D oes your back or neck hurt? Do you experience unexplained pain in other parts of your body? If so,

you will want to visit Dr. Shawn Gay at Arlington Family Chiropractic. It’s no secret chiropractors are the number one choice when it comes to taking care of people with back and neck pain, but they can help patients with other aches and pains as well.

Dr. Gay has been in business for 12 years, with 11 years at his 3,000-square-foot o� ce in Arlington. When it comes to dealing with the central nervous system, Gay relies on his time with many patients and years of experience to maximize results.

Gay and his associate Marcus Woodall work with their clients to reach their per-sonal goals for optimized health. It makes sense for Gay to share tips all people should consider before choosing a chiro-practor.

First on his tip list is to make sure the chiropractor conducts a thorough exam, which includes X-rays. Having an X-ray as part of the diagnosis allows chiroprac-tors to get a clearer picture about what is causing a patient’s discomfort. Gay said chiropractors who don’t X-ray patients could be playing a guessing game that can become potentially dangerous if a prob-lem is misdiagnosed or simply missed. Gay addresses his patient’s issues right

from the start by conducting a thorough exam including digital X-rays. At Ar-lington Family Chiropractic, the proper diagnosis is the � rst building block to a solution.

Research before you choose your chi-ropractor. Gay said the idea that chiro-practic work isn’t safe is a misnomer he hopes to help end. But, just like choosing your doctor or dentist, you don’t want to go to just anyone. Along with years of experience, you might want to make sure your chiropractor is someone who is a

longstanding citizen in the Arlington and surrounding communities. You can also ask your regular doctor who her she rec-ommends as many medical doctors are with chiropractors to help their patients get better more quickly without getting surgery.

Gay is an active member by volunteer-ing with schools, educating the commu-nity about optimizing their health and

donating his services and money to wor-thy causes that will improve Arlington and its surrounding communities.

“I recently gave a presentation to the chamber (of commerce),” Gay said. “Basi-cally, I let them know what back and neck pain really is and that the central nervous system controls everything and really tells them what to do.”

When paying for your � rst consulta-tion and subsequent visits, Gay suggests to make sure your chiropractor accepts insurance. Not all situations allow for in-surance coverage, that’s why it’s important to call (Arlington Family Chiropractic at 360-435-3900) ahead of time to make sure your current health care insurance cover-age includes your chiropractic work.

Same-day care is important at Arling-ton Chiropractic, which they are capable of providing. But, Dr. Gay shares when choosing a chiropractic doctor, you should be cognizant if they provide long-term care as well. Gay said clients should work with an “all-in-one” facility that of-fers massage and physical therapy. No one has time to run all over town to get better.

“I love to do what I do, which is to help people,” Gay said. “� ose who get into it for the money don’t end up getting the money. But if you make your intent to help people, then you’ll always have a busy o� ce.”

“I love to do what I do, which is to help people. � ose who get into it for the money don’t end up getting the money. But if you make your intent

to help people, then you’ll always have a busy o� ce.”

-Shawn Gay D.C., Arlington Family Chiropractic

Arlington Family Chiropractic doctors Marcus Woodall and Shawn Gay stand in front of diplomas and community accolades.

Shawn Gay, D.C.

Back Problems?

We Can Help

Shawn Gay D.C Marcus Woodall D.C

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Back Problems?

We Can Help

Roy Robinson General Manager Mark King, Internet and Training Manager Frank Graham and GM Dealer Principal Gordy Bjorg Jr. show o� the 2010 Chevy Camaro.

Frank Graham5Consumer

Tips1. Consider a Factory Certi� ed

Used Vehicle. Get the bene� ts of a new vehicle at a pre-owned price. At Roy Robinson only used, previously titled GM vehicles that are less than � ve calendar years old and less than 80,000 miles qualify.

2. Insist on a fully documented, 117-point inspection process with GM and a 152-point inspection with Subaru. The 1.5-hour process requires any item that fails the inspection to be corrected before the vehicle is certi� ed.

3. Insist on a CARFAX report. Roy Robinson Subaru must run a CARFAX vehicle history report on all vehicles prior to making them certi� ed pre-owned.

4. Insist on extended powertrain warranty coverage. Subaru vehicles include a 6-year or 100,000 mile powertrain plan with zero deductible and roadside assistance and GM vehicles receive a 5-year or 100,000 mile powertrain warranty and 12 months or 12,000 miles bumper-to-bumper coverage.

5. Insist on a detailed disclosure of your transaction... “in plain English” so you know all the aspects of your deal.

How to purchase a used vehicleIt’s o� en said that change is good and now

more than ever, the time for change is upon us.

Yes, change is happening everywhere you look, so it’s not surprising that a� er over 40 years in business at the same location, and under the same management, Snohomish County’s premier Subaru, Chevrolet and mo-torhome dealership, Roy Robinson, is mak-ing a few changes too.

But don’t panic just yet. Buyers can still get a � rm handshake from someone who looks them in the eye, knows what they’re talking about and gives them the honest truth about their vehicles. Only now, the information provided to customers is much more readily available and Roy Robinson is eager to share.

“� e Internet has really caused a seismic shi� that has placed the customer in charge,” Roy Robinson Internet and Training Man-ager Frank Graham said. “We feel the more informed customer is our kind of customer. � e razzle dazzle and tap dancing days are over.”

Just because customers can go online to access Kelly Blue Book statistics, get CAR-FAX reports at the click of a computer mouse and access photos of some of the dealership’s more than 400 vehicles on the lot, doesn’t mean they can’t visit Roy Robinson to check out the latest models and kick a few tires.

Roy Robinson General Manager Mark King is a veteran of the automobile business with 21 years with the company. He said he has noticed a change for the better when it comes to how he and his sta� communicate

with customers.“� e basic core principles remain the

same, but how we communicate with the customer and how they communicate with us has changed,” King said. “It used to be that a� er you sell a vehicle you’d send out a thank-you card – now it’s an e-mail or text message.”Before any sales are made and thank-you texts are sent, Roy Robinson’s sta� has � ve tips they insist buyers should follow when making their decisions about a vehicle.

At Roy Robinson they recommend you: Shop for a Factory Certi� ed • used vehicle.Insist on a fully documented inspection. • Request a CARFAX report.• Insist on extended powertrain warranty • coverage. Get a plain English, detailed disclosure • of your transaction.

Currently, over 80 percent of sales come from repeat customers and their referrals, but that doesn’t mean Roy Robinson isn’t in-terested in meeting some new people. With a lower tax rate than metro dealers, a Preferred

Owner Club, 60 complimentary loaner cars available and a full service auto and recre-ational vehicle body shop and repair center sta� ed by certi� ed and master techs who use factory parts, Roy Robinson is a one-stop shopping dealership that meets all your needs.

And their sales consultants also know their stu� . � ey’ve all been Subaru and Chevro-let factory certi� ed including Corvette and Chevy trucks. In addition, they all have com-pleted GM Certi� ed Internet Manager Train-ing. At Roy Robinson, all salespeople are quali� ed to work with customers in person or over the Internet, (including Internet pric-ing) - whichever their customer prefers.

At Roy Robinson, � nancing rates are han-dled by the sales managers, not a separate � nance manager. Graham said: “Our Sales Managers are here to work with 35 banks and credit unions to secure the best possible rates for our customers. We’re in the car business, not the � nance business.” Customers can be pre-quali� ed for � nancing before they even visit the dealership by going to www.RoyRob-inson.com, clicking on the “� nance” tab and completing an online secure and con� dential credit application.

Finally, Roy Robinson o� ers special “� eet” pricing to select groups like Costco members, active and retired military, Boeing and other GM Supplier companies and local organizations. To see if your organization is eligible simply call Frank Graham at 360-659-6236 or e-mail him [email protected].

“� e Internet has really caused a seismic shi� that has placed the customer in charge. We feel the more informed customer is our

kind of customer. � e razzle dazzle and tap dancing days are over.”

- Internet Training Manager Frank Graham

Frank Graham

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Over 60 new and Certified Used Subarus to choose from.

Here are two examples of new ones.

1. The � rst dental visit should be scheduled by age 1 or within six months of your child’s � rst tooth erupting.

2. Thumb and paci� er sucking are very normal behaviors for infants and young children. Most children stop these habits on their own by age 3.

3. Parents should replace their child’s toothbrush every three or four months.

4. Sipping on milk, juice, soda or sports or energy drinks throughout the day or night causes cavities due to the sugars in those beverages.

5. The earlier a cavity is diagnosed and treated, the less invasive the overall treatment will be. Over time, cavities can spread and possibly lead to an infection.

How to prepare for your child’s � rst dentist visit

Parents want what’s best for their children.

Whether it’s selecting the prop-er knit hat that will keep their infant warm or reading to a young one each night be-fore they go to bed, these decisions made by parents have a huge impact on their children’s lives.

While most parents know about the importance of pediatric medical care, not all parents are familiar with pediatric den-tistry.

But there’s a lot parents can do to pre-pare their child for his or her � rst dental cleaning, said Dr. Justin Smith of Arling-ton Pediatric Dentistry, so long as they’ve made the decision to move forward with preventative care.

O� en the � rst hurdle for parents is just knowing when to � rst bring their child in.

Smith said it’s extremely important for the dentist to see a child by the time they reach 1 year or within six months a� er their � rst tooth pokes through their gums.

“� e average age for tooth eruption is six months, but it can be a year,” Smith said. “Sometimes children are born with a tooth. We see a lot of cavities by the time (untreated) children reach 3 years of age, though.”

Once parents know when to begin treat-ment, they need to do some homework.

Selecting the right dentist or pediatric

dentist is the biggest, and o� en times most intimidating, decision a parent can make.

Pediatric dentists, such as Smith, spe-cialize only in children’s dentistry, while general practice dentists treat patients of all ages.

While practical factors, such as whether the dentist, regular or pediatric, is close to your home or whether he or she takes your insurance, can play a factor, parents should get to know their potential dentist before that � rst cleaning, Smith said.

“Each parent knows their child’s own personality,” Smith said. “We speak to kids and make it so they aren’t scared when they come in for the � rst time.”

Know that it’s � ne to visit a potential dental o� ce before scheduling a cleaning.

“If they don’t � nd one at � rst, that’s okay,” Smith said. “A lot of people have a hard time � nding a dentist they are com-fortable with. It’s the same when � nding a dentist for your child.”

Once a parent has found their dentist, they shouldn’t wait too long for their child’s � rst cleaning.

Some parents only bring their children into the dentist when there’s a problem.

Dentists strive to prevent cavities or oral problems before they start, so parents shouldn’t put o� that � rst dental appoint-ment.

Parents are typically concerned about their child’s well-being at the dentist and that’s � ne, Smith said. But more o� en than not, Smith said parents are o� en surprised at how comfortable a 12-month-old child can be during their � rst trip to the dentist so long as they’re having fun.

� e � nal tip to help prepare your chil-dren — and yourselves — for the � rst trip to the dentist is to be positive and open minded to the experience because a child can o� en model your feelings or demean-or.

Many parents have questions about how to brush their young child’s teeth or what are healthy snacks to give. Items such as fruit snacks (gummies), raisins, fruit leathers, may appear healthy but actually contain large amounts of sugar, high fruc-tose corn syrup and other ingredients that can cause harm to teeth.

� e families we see are very interested in playing an active role in their child’s oral healthcare. “We strive to be the best resource for parents regarding their child’s oral health and well being.”

For more information about pediatric dentistry or to set up an appointment with Smith, visit www.apdkidsteeth.com or call 360-657-1650.

“� e average age for tooth eruption is six months, but

it can be a year”-Dr. Justin Smith, Arlington Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Justin Smith

Dr. Justin Smith and the sta� at Arlington Pediatric Dentistry specialize in dental care for children.

5Consumer

Tips

Dr. Justin Smith

Always accepting new patients! We are preferred providers with all major insurance plans and bill all other plans.

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5Consumer

Tips

1. Washington is an open access state where patients can choose their physical therapist.

2. Following through on home exercise programs is important to success.

3. Treatment should rarely cause pain. Part of avoiding pain is making sure your therapist provides a well-rounded treatment plan composed of both manual therapy and therapeutic exercise.

4. Choose a therapist who will educate you on your injury/dysfunction and instruct you on how to become independent.

5. Choose a therapist who will stay in close contact with your referring physician.

How to select the right physical therapist

ProAction physical therapy in Marysville has been around for a year and a half. � e open � oor

plan and education-oriented approach to therapy makes them a smart choice for anyone’s Physical � erapy needs.

� e 2,700-square-foot therapy space houses three full-time therapists and one massage therapist. Owner, Todd Aalbu, MPT, CSCS, PES and his wife, Tamsie, an Occupational � erapist, have set up a business that seeks to educate the public on what they should look for when choosing a physical therapist.

Aalbu has put together � ve tips to consider when choosing a therapist. First on his list is realizing that Wash-ington is an “open access state” where patients can choose their own physical therapist. Your physician may recom-mend physical therapy as an interven-tion, and you as the patient can take a doctor’s referral to a therapist that � ts your needs and you feel is going to help you achieve your goals.

Once a therapist is chosen, that ther-apist will evaluate your condition and create a personalized therapy program, also in accordance with a physician’s recommendations or orders. Following through with that program is Aalbu’s second tip. It is crucial that the therapy program and home exercise program is

followed with consistency for gains in function.

Tip three is that treatment should rarely be painful. A well-rounded Phys-ical � erapy program should consist of both manual therapy and therapeutic exercise, and working through intense pain is rarely e� ective in treatment pro-grams. Pain o� en initiates a response to

compensate movement into directions that are not desired.

Aalbu said his sta� at ProAction, seek to educate patients on what they should feel when doing exercise and provide ways to correct movement. He added that continual communication with a therapist during treatment is the best way to help patients achieve their goals.

“Physical therapy is designed to be a transition to independence,” Aalbu states. � at is why tip four is � nding someone who can educate patients on their injury or dysfunction and in-struct them on how to become inde-pendent. Aalbu has been helping pa-tients achieve their goals of improved function and become independent for over a decade now.

Aalbu feels privileged to have the ex-perience of his sta� , physical therapists David Scarth, MPT; Kendra Frey, DPT; and massage therapist Gaby Guenther; as well as the relationships he’s devel-oped with local physicians in the area.

In fact, � nding someone who stays in close contact with a referring physi-cian is ProAction’s � nal tip. “� e main reason most people go through therapy is to � nd a solution and make change occur, whether it is in response to pain, improving strength and conditioning, or in injury prevention,” Aalbu said. “As therapists, it is important that we all function as a team, between the client, the physician and the physical therapist.” At ProAction, they o� er free injury screenings so anyone hoping to rehab an injury can call 360-653-5800 to make an appointment for a free screening that will get them started on their way to improved physical health.

“� ere needs to be continued communication to let the patient

understand what they’re doing and why they’re doing it. Retraining movement patterns to become more functional comes through

educating the patient.”- Todd Aalbu, Pro Action Physical � erapy

physical therapist

Todd AalbuTodd Aalbu

ProAction Physical Therapy’s Kendra Frey, and therapists Todd Aalbu and David Scarth o� er an education-approach to therapy.

Physical � erapy• Athletic and Sports • Performance EnhancementBody Mechanics• Postural Restoration• Core Stabilization•

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We aim to continually raise and exceed our standards of practice and the service that we provide. We at ProAction Physical � erapy, PLLC, look forward to assisting you in achieving your goals to a successful recovery.

If you’ve been injured, have had surgery or su� er from musculoskeletal pain, we can help.

5Consumer

Tips

1. Develop a relationship with a local credit union

2. Set a budget

3. Save

4. Improve your credit score

5. Check your credit report

How to achieve � nancial freedomAn economic downturn o� en sets

people into a state of panic, but at MountainCrest Credit Union, they

have � ve tips to help make achieving your � nancial dreams a reality.

MountainCrest Marketing Director Elaine Maglaras said no matter what the economy does, there’s always some simple, time-tested tips anyone can do to improve their � nancial freedom.

At the top of her list is to develop a rela-tionship with a local credit union. Of course, Marglaras suggests that can be done by vis-iting one of their three branches located in Marysville, Arlington and Everett.

With 76 years in business, more than a dozen years in Arlington and three years at their current corporate o� ce located in Smokey Point, MountainCrest has grown their presence in the community.

Finding MountainCrest is easy. A quick trip to their website at www.mountaincrest-cu.com can provide directions and details about all they have to o� er. What might not be as easy, is Maglaras’ second tip—setting a budget.

For those out there who have had trouble sticking to budgets in the past, Mountain-Crest provides an excellent program online called Balance that makes the budgeting pro-cess much easier. From saving for a child’s education, a dream wedding or vacation to setting up an IRA and getting free � nancial counseling, Balance is a program that can do it all.

“We want to educate our members a little more so they can be a member for life and have a relationship with us that lasts,” Moun-tainCrest Director of Operations Trina DeMoss said.

And part of that relationship with Moun-tainCrest includes getting an equal vote

because MCCU is member-owned and the voices of each of their more than 15,000 members count.

At MountainCrest, they are a credit union that provides more personal service because they know their members. In fact, their mantra is people helping people. � at’s a philosophy everyone at every branch works hard to uphold. If a member is having � nan-cial problems and considering bankruptcy, MountainCrest employees are happy to help work with creditors so that clients can make the most informed decision possible regard-ing their � nancial future.

For those who can a� ord it, Mountain-Crest suggests they try tip three—to save. One great way to save without worry is to take advantage of payroll deduction.

“It’s always best when savings come from an automatic payroll deduction,” Maglaras said. “� at way you don’t miss it when it’s gone.”

And saving early is nothing new at Moun-tainCrest. � ey’ve set up a program for kids titled P.A.W.S., or Pennies Are Worth Saving. For adults, Maglaras recommends having at least six months of living expenses saved up.

But saving isn’t the only topic Moun-tainCrest educates their members about. Improving credit scores is also a hot topic —that’s why it’s their fourth tip. Two of the

best ways to improve credit is to always make your payments on time and keep the balances on revolving credit low relative to credit limits.

“We really stress how important credit is and how important your credit score is,” Maglaras said. “� e choices you make re-garding credit can really a� ect you in the long term. We want members to know how to use credit wisely. Because if you don’t, it’s hard to recover. (Credit) is something every-one has to deal with in life.”

Establishing credit can be as easy as apply-ing for a Visa card. At MountainCrest, they have programs that abide by new federal regulations and require applicants to either show the ability to pay or be 21 years old. For youngsters still establishing credit, limits start at $500.

Yet maxing out your credit cards is never a good idea. But maintaining an active role in monitoring credit is a good idea. � at’s why it’s the � � h and � nal tip MountainCrest gives.

“It’s important to check your credit on a regular basis,” Maglaras said. “Especially in the day of identity the� . Errors do happen. You need to make sure (creditors) do not make those mistakes.”

Mistakes regarding a person’s credit can cause them to be denied credit, a mortgage or even a job. One resource to help avoid mistakes is www.annualcreditreport.com, which allows for a free credit report every 12 months.

“Credit really does a� ect every aspect of a person’s life,” Maglaras said. “� e higher your score, the better interest rates you’ll get. We want to help you improve your � nancial picture, and improving your credit score and checking your credit report are both great ways to do that.”

“We really stress how important credit is and how important

your credit score is. � e choices you make regarding credit can

really a� ect you in the long term.”-Elaine Maglaras, Marketing Director,

MountainCrest Credit Union

Elaine Maglaras

MountainCrest Credit Union Marketing Director Elaine Maglaras (left), Director of Operations Trina DeMoss and Branch Manager Jill Williams (right) welcome members at the Smokey Point branch in Arlington.

Elaine Maglaras

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5Consumer

Tips

1. Get tested. If you’re tired of not hearing correctly and want to preserve your quality of life, then call All American Hearing (360-653-8500) to schedule a free hearing assessment. Or visit the web site (www.al-lamericanhearing.com) to sign up and receive a free hearing technology package or package of hearing aid batteries.

2. Educate yourself on what types of aids are available. All Ameri-can Hearing o� ers Starkey aids, the second largest manufactur-er in the world behind Seamans. All Starkey aids are American made.

3. Make sure it’s not wax. Some-times wax build up can cause temporary hearing loss. A free screening at All American Hear-ing can let you know if your hearing loss is wax related or if a doctor’s visit and ampli� ca-tion � tting is necessary.

4. Using its top of the line technol-ogy, All American Hearing can evaluate and assess whether a customer should see a physician or simply needs a hearing aid.

5. Don’t be afraid and be sure to involve a loved one in the corrective process. Involving a loved one can allow you to hear a familiar voice that will aid in the evaluation process.

How to select a new hearing aid Upon entering the All American

Hearing o� ce in Smokey Point, it becomes apparent right away that

the patient is their most important concern. A Bill of Rights detailing their customer ser-vice principles assures customers that their satisfaction is the top concern in the hearing improvement process.

According to the All American Hearing website, 35 million people in the United States su� er some degree of hearing impair-ment, so if you’re experiencing di� culties hearing, you’re obviously not alone.

All American Hearing put together � ve tips to consider if you’re one of the 35 mil-lion Americans who have trouble hearing.

Tip one is to get tested. Regional Manager Paul Riding suggests

making hearing assessments a regular part of your annual physical check-up. He said the Surgeon General recommends people over 50 get checked at least once a year.

“People need to get in and have their hearing tested,” Riding said. “It’s equally important as taking care of your eyes and teeth.”

Tip two is to educate yourself on the types of aids that are available. People looking to upgrade their current aids can also set up a visit to All American Hearing for an evalu-ation. Aids need to be replaced every 5-7 years, so visiting All American Hearing to check out the latest programmable mod-els can open your ears up to a whole new world.

“Sometimes you don’t realize the impact of your hearing loss until you bring a loved one in and go through an assessment to try

a new model,” Manufacturer Representa-tive and Open House Specialist Allan Krebs said. “I’ve had customers who come in and get � tted for a new aid and then get emo-tional and well up with tears in their eyes when they hear the voices of their loved ones again.”

� ere are many di� erent styles of Ameri-can made Starkey aids to consider and photos and details can all be viewed on the website(www.allamericanhearing.com). All American Hearing o� ers a full variety of

models from in the ear and behind the ear models, to in the canal and the new invisible in the canal, which is packed with industry leading technology that gives a feedback canceller and noise reduction and speech preservation system. Hearing impairment can be di� erent depending on whether you’re in calm, social, active or vibrant set-tings and the type of aid required will di� er

for each setting.Hearing Instrument Specialist Linda Kn-

isley said one issue she runs into, or tip three, is to make sure it’s not wax build up that is causing hearing loss. She added that acting on your loss as soon as possible can actually improve your chances of a full correction.

“Sometimes people wait too long and it’s harder for them to make a correction be-cause their brain forgets what it’s like to have (full) hearing,” Knisley said.

Pursuing correction a� er the All Ameri-can evaluation is tip four. A visit to the doc-tor to determine if ampli� cation is neces-sary for you can get you started on your way to improved hearing.

“� ere are a lot of di� erent variables to consider and a lot of that depends on the severity of a person’s loss,” Riding said. “It’s not an exact science, but we work with the customer to � nd them a solution that is � t-ted to their lifestyle.”

Finally, involving a loved one in the hear-ing correction process and avoiding fear of the unknown, is the � nal tip All American Hearing gives. A 30-day, money-back guar-antee on all sales make the purchase process that much easier. Financing through CareC-redit makes an aid purchase a� ordable and insurance coverage is also available in some cases.

“� ings have changed a lot when it comes to what you can get from your insurance coverage,” All American Hearing Patient Services Coordinator Molly Ryan said. “(Labor and Industries) coverage allows customers to be � tted with what they want now instead of just what L & I says.”

“Sometimes you don’t realize the impact of your hearing loss until you bring a loved one in and go through an assessment to try a new model.

I’ve had customers who come in and get � tted for a new aid and then get emotional and well up with tears in their eyes when they hear the voices

of their loved ones again.”- Allan Krebs, All American Hearing Manufacturer

Representative and Open House Specialist

Paul Riding

All American Hearing Regional Manager Paul Riding, Manufacturer Representative and Open House Specialist Allan Krebs, Hearing Instrument Specialist Linda Knisley and Patient Services Coordinator Molly Ryan show o� their customer service principles.

Paul Riding

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