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5Consumer Tips1. Find compassion

— Treating every-one from the resi-dents and visitors to the care givers like family.

2. Look for a com-munity — Con-necting with those outside of the facility and being part of Ar-lington.

3. Therapy — More than just the physical, but im-proving mental and spiritual sides of life.

4. A stable sta� — Balanced, friendly and reliable sta� available every-day.

5. Can’t forget fun — Activities inside and outside the fa-cility. Casinos, � sh-ing, gardening.

How to choose a care facility with a sense of communityCompassion and community

can make our lives richer. We all know a hug is never wast-

ed, a kind word is always a blessing and a smile is great medicine. � ese are what you can expect at our home according to Mike Shaw administrator.

Shaw encourages families and friends to come and visit residents at any time. � ere are monthly family barbecues and bu� et days as well as special occa-sions to celebrate family ties.

� e home is having a Fall Festival on Saturday Oct. 22nd from 11a.m to 3p.m. Some fun activities will be petting zoo, hay rides, games for kiddos (young and old), chainsaw carving, ra� es a chili cooko� and pie bake o� too!!!

“It’s all about getting people to con-nect with our residents — we live in a wonderful area, people have such good hearts here.” he said.

As those relationships grow, people tend to start taking care of one another, which is the atmosphere Shaw sees ev-eryday at Regency and hopes to build on.

“We are hoping in the future to get a mentor reading program called ‘Readers and Leaders’ set up with local schools to

help kids learn to read — they are our future,” he said. “Our home is also roll-ing out an Adopt-A-Grandparent pro-gram to encourage little ones to remem-ber all of our elders. If you want to help with either of these please call the facility at 360-403-8247.”

Of course, there are a number of other

factors to consider in a care facility — such as rehabilitation therapy — physi-cal, occupational and speech.

“Twenty-� ve percent of folks come here for four to six weeks, and then they go back home,” Shaw said.

In fact, Regency has pride in its high number of positive clinical outcomes, and low return-to-hospital rate.

As part of a large community, Shaw realizes the importance of mental health.

Regency brings in counselors twice a week for residents.

Regency residents have the opportu-nity to see the same therapists from the hospital to home, as they work in local hospitals and provide outpatient servic-es a� er patients discharge home.

In addition to those services, Regency o� ers massage therapy, and Shaw said there are plans to begin bringing in an acupuncturist as well.

Having a dedicated, stable and caring team provides support and encourage-ment to both residents and families. “We believe in having a good time here ... We always catch � sh on our � shing trips — who wants to get skunked?” said Shaw.

For high-rollers, Regency takes sched-uled trips to local casinos as well.

� ere is just everyday fun too, where residents can enjoy � ower and vegetable gardening, bread baking, pet therapy, dancing, occasional live music and cra� s.

“Terri� c local volunteer cra� smen like Terry Marsh come in and work with our residents on painting and woodwork,” Shaw said.

And, of course, we DO play Bingo!”Call for information (360) 403-8247

“Our home is here to support you and yours Emotionally,

Physically and

Spiritually...� at’s who we are,

that’s what we do — for you.”- Mike Shaw

Mike ShawAdministrator

The sta� of Regency Care Center at Arlington comes out to welcome you.

Mike Shaw

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“Our Family...Caring For Yours”

Emotionally,Physically,Spiritually

620 Hazel Street, Arlington

360-403-8247

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5Consumer Tips1. Find the right

system for you — Looking to play online, watch blurays, or play with the family?

2. Find a game — You can test drive your game here.

3. A place to party — Come in for the games, and stay for the gaming.

4. Knowledgeable Sta� — Employees are gamers � rst and foremost.

5. RESETGAMES.COM — Buy and trade your games online with ease!

How To Get The Most From Your Reset Games ExperienceNowadays, there are so many gam-

ing options that gamers of all ages need a store that can help them

sort it all out. � at’s why Reset Games has made itself more than just a gaming store — it’s a hub for local gamers.

“We know almost everybody who comes in regularly. � ere are some that we don’t know, but we get to know our hardcore gamers pretty well, and the parents of a lot of the kids that come in, so it makes for a pretty cool community,” said Reset Games manager Mike Morales.

But Morales said that even his most de-voted customers aren’t aware of all the store has to o� er, which is why he has suggested � ve steps to getting the most out of his sta� and his store.

For starters, those new to gaming can turn to his sta� to help decide which system � ts their needs.

“It de� nitely depends on whether you want an entertainment system like the Play-Station 3 with a Blu-ray player in it where everything online is free,” he said. “But if all your friends are playing online with Xbox then they’ll go that way.”

A� er � nding a system, Reset Games then makes it as easy as possible to � nd the right games by letting customers peel o� the plas-tic and try it out.

“It’s tough these days with the economy the way it is,” he said. “People aren’t just willing to drop $60 on a game that they’ve never played before or just heard about. So we o� er that extra experience where you get to sit down, try out the game and if you like it, pick it up.”

� ose plasma screens aren’t just for test-ing out games though. Reset Games turns into a venue for themed nights, such as the most recent Marvel vs. Capcom tourna-ment, where as many as 30 gamers faced o� against each other digitally for prizes and a chance to test their skills.

“We do that kind of thing in both the stores, where people can get together and enjoy games together and maybe earn a

little money to put down on a new game,” Morales said.

For parents taking their kids to the store, they can keep an eye on their children while sitting in comfortable chairs in the Parents’ Corner where they can watch television or even read a magazine.

But Reset Games isn’t just about the latest and greatest, the store also boasts a collec-tion of vintage games that not only attracts the pre-gaming gamers, but also acts as a history of gaming.

“We get a lot of out-of-state collectors,” he said. “People will come in with big lists and we’ve got a lot of rare stu� for the Atari.”

Finally, the newest way to take advantage of all Reset Games has to o� er is not to show up to the store, as all of these features are available at home from the tips of your � n-gers with the new Reset Games online store. From cyberspace, you can pre-order, buy, sell and even discuss games.

Reset Games will take care of the trip to the store for you with a mailing trade-in sys-tem, and even provides tips for people to get the most out of their used games.

� e best part about resetgames.com? � ey o� er free 1-3 day shipping on all purchases and run di� erent promotions on used games. Everything they o� er in-store is available online from retro to the current generation of games.

Reset makes the online trade-in process easy by simply selecting which games you want to trade online, then shipping the prepaid trade-in bag with your games and a printed invoice. Soon a� er, your store credit shows up online for you to shop with.

Resetgames.com is also a good source of blogs and reviews straight from the knowledgeable sta� . A forum is also available for gamers to join the commu-nity and talk shop with fellow gamers.

When it comes down to it, Reset Games o� ers the opportunity for gamers to become as involved in their gaming community as they’d like.

For more information visit ResetGames.com or call (360) 653-8580.

“It de� nitely depends on whether you want an entertainment system like the PlayStation 3

with a Blu-ray player in it where everything online is free,” he said. “But if all your friends are playing

online with Xbox then they’ll go that way.”

- Mike Morales

Mike MoralesManager

Reset Games employees Mike Morales, Arin Van Dorth and Jake Middleton hold court in their game testing section of the store.

Mike Morales

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5Consumer Tips1. MountainCrest Credit

Union is open to all Wash-ington state residents and allows its members to sign up and manage their accounts online.

2. MountainCrest helps younger customers build good credit with their � rst credit cards, so that they can get their � rst car loans through the credit union.

3. The “Balance” � nancial � t-ness program is available for free to all Mountain-Crest members, to guide them through crises and everyday expenses alike.

4. MountainCrest’s partner-ship with the True North Financial Group provides its members with retire-ment planning services and alternatives to sav-ings accounts, including 401K.

5. MountainCrest Credit Union members can skip a payment for a month, and enjoy a 3.9 percent Visa purchase rate during November and Decem-ber, to help with their holiday expenses.

How to get started in planning your � nancial future, and how to weather the current economy with MountainCrest Credit Union

With International Credit Union Day taking place on Oct. 20 this year, the members of the

MountainCrest Credit Union want existing and prospective customers alike to know how MountainCrest lives up to that day’s spirit of improving the lives of both indi-viduals and their communities.

“A lot of folks don’t know the di� er-ences between a bank and a credit union,” said Mark Morrison, president and CEO of MountainCrest Credit Union. “Unlike a bank, we’re a non-pro� t cooperative. Our board of directors are all volunteers. Our members are our owners, and their deci-sions drive how we run.”

MountainCrest is open to anyone who lives in the state of Washington. Indeed, both Morrison and Elaine Maglaras, the marketing director for MountainCrest in Arlington, emphasized that the Mountain-Crest Credit Union tries to make itself as accessible as possible, not only to existing members who might be struggling under current economic conditions, but also to newer and younger customers who have never dealt with a credit union before.

“Credit unions were started during the Great Depression to deal with economic circumstances just like this,” Morrison said. “Whatever you might be hearing from the banks about loans right now, we still have the money to lend for things like cars and real estate and � xing up your home, all at competitive rates.”

Maglaras explained that MountainCrest’s

online services make signing up and man-aging one’s money as simple as a few mouse-clicks.

“You can open an account within minutes on our site,” Maglaras said. “My nephew had never had a credit card before, so we were able to give him one with a $500 limit to start, which allowed him to build up enough credit to get his � rst car loan from us.”

“Parents can cosign for their kids’ � rst VISA cards with us as they head o� to col-lege, or even just give them prepaid cards that they can reload with us as needed,” Morrison said. “From your � rst credit card to your � rst car loan, we want to be there for all your � nancial � rsts.”

Although members can check their ac-count balances and transfer funds between their accounts online, Maglaras also touted the personal touch that MountainCrest employees can o� er in talking to members one-on-one, not only about building good credit and paying their bills, but also plan-ning their � nances in the long run. To that end, the “Balance” � nancial � tness program

is available for free to all MountainCrest members, to guide them through crises and everyday expenses alike.

“If you’re in � nancial trouble, we can help you develop a budget and � gure out a pay-ment schedule that can get you through it,” Maglaras said. “If you’ve had a new baby and you’re wondering whether you can af-ford day care, we can help you out with that too. Balance is there for both your happy times and your di� cult times.”

MountainCrest has also partnered with the True North Financial Group to provide retirement planning services and alterna-tives to savings accounts, including 401K.

“It’s a full-service broker,” Morrison said. “As we help you look at your long-term � -nances with an eye toward retirement, we can help you � nd the right products for you, whether it’s insurance, assisted living care or other options, since not every service can � t within everyone’s budget.”

Looking to the nearer future, Mountain-Crest aims to make its members’ holidays a bit brighter by easing a few of their � nancial burdens.

“In November and December, we’re drop-ping our Visa purchase rate to 3.9 percent in time for holiday shopping,” Maglaras said.

“Our members can also skip a payment, up to twice a year,” Morrison said. “For $25, you can skip one of your payments, such as your car payment, for a month. A lot of folks take advantage of that for the winter holi-days.” Please visit www.mountaincrestcu.com or call (360) 435-5400.

Mark MorrisonPresident & CEO

From left, Arlington MountainCrest Credit Union Finance Specialist Deanna Wietzke, Branch Manager Jill Williams and Member Service Representative Amelia Hollingsworth are ready to assist both new and existing members.

“From your � rst credit card to your � rst car loan, we want to be there for all your � nancial � rsts.”

- Mark Morrison

Mark Morrison

7Everyone is Welcome!

1% Cash Back...on your New, Used,

or Refinanced Auto Loan*

*Loan documents must be signed at MountainCrest Credit Union to qualify for cash back. Loan documents signed at the dealership do not qualify.

1-877-601-0000 www.mountaincrestcu.com

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5Consumer Tips1. Try the Totem Club

— It’s like having your own concierge to the casino.

2. Walk around — Don’t be afraid to ask a dealer how to play, or what’s hot.

3. Check out poker — Free lessons on how to play are ev-ery Wednesday.

4. Relax with keno — Lounge in the com-fortable seats with some penny keno.

5. Stay refreshed — Try Angel of the Winds’ award-win-ning restaurants or bu� ets.

Have more fun at the “World’s Friendliest Casino”

With such an array of things to do at Angel of the Winds Casino, it can be hard to

� gure out just what to do � rst. For those wanting to get a full casino experience Marketing and House Services director Eric Larsen has � ve suggestions.

� e � rst stop you should make when visiting is the player’s club. At Angel of the Winds Casino it is called the Totem Club and is open all night.

“Some people come in and can be in-timidated with all the � ashing lights and the machines going on and that’s why the Totem Club is there, to help you get settled in,” Larsen said.

� e Totem Club is like your own con-cierge to direct you to everything that’s happening. You will learn about the daily promotions, tournaments, dining specials and more with this � rst stop. Be sure to join the club to be included in the drawings and other perks by be-ing a member. Membership is free to all guests age 21 and over. � is October and November Angel of the Winds Casino is celebrating its seventh anniversary by giving away seven brand new Chevys including a Chevy Volt. Visit the Totem Club for details.

If you like table games, take a min-ute walk around the pit to see the new games, progressive jackpots and friendly dealers. � e dealers love to take whatever time is necessary to teach you any game you would like to learn.

“� at’s what our sta� is there for,” Lar-

sen said. “� ey’re not just there to deal games, but they’ll show you the etiquette to make you feel right at home.”

Yes, they have all the old favorites like craps, roulette and, of course, blackjack. � e dealers at Angel of the Winds deal blackjack the old-fashioned way — with hand shu� ing and a smile.

With over 1,000 slots you will � nd a favorite game to play. All machines will accept cash and will print a ticket for you to cash out when you win. New games

come out weekly so be sure to ask your slot attendant “what’s hot.”

� e poker room has eight tables and, of course, the most popular game Texas Hold’em. Daily tournaments with friend-ly buy-ins and great pay-outs are the rule. Free lessons on how to play are featured every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. � is fall the poker room has the second $50,000 free roll. Earn a free seat to this tourna-ment the — largest free roll in Washing-

ton state. Ask the poker room for details.� e keno lounge features the most

comfortable seats in the house. Watch the keno balls live, enjoy a beverage and watch TV while playing keno. Yes, they even have penny keno. Keno tourna-ments give you a chance to win extra cash so ask your keno attendant for details.

Also, Larsen recommends staying re-plenished. Katie’s Kitchen is one of Sno-homish County’s busiest restaurants fea-turing the famous 99-cent specials and $1.49 classics. Fresh food and the best prices in Washington leave you smiling with every visit. And Katie’s is always open.

� e Watershed Restaurant now fea-tures daily bu� ets and a full menu. � e beautiful atmosphere and great service in a casual setting is just 150 feet away from the casino action. Open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday Brunch is served 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All you can eat Bu� et is 4-10 p.m. daily. But if you want to stay refreshed while playing, the casino � oor has four self-serve co� ee and self-serve beverage stations that are free. Beverage servers are constantly patrolling if you would like to be served at your seat.

A fun and friendly lounge featur-ing live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays will be found in the Water-shed Lounge at 9 p.m. For information visit www.angelo� hewinds.com or call (360) 474-9740.

“Some people come in and can be intimidated with all the � ashing lights, and the machines going

on and that’s why the Totem Club is there, to help you get settled in”

- Eric Larsen

Eric LarsenMarketing & House Services

Director

The Wolf Run is one of the more popular slot machines at the Angel of the Winds Casino

Eric Larsen

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5Consumer Tips1. Assess your needs

— make sure a Manual J heat load calculation is done to properly size your home comfort system.

2. Save energy, save money — by taking advantage of Snohomish PUD Incentives and Loans.

3. Decide on a brand — � nd a brand you can trust with a warranty that means something.

4. Going green doesn’t cost more — environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be for super rich anymore.

5. Installation — trust in 76 years experience.

Andgar extends family to Snohomish County

Snohomish County residents and businesses are about to learn what Whatcom County and Skagit Coun-

ty residents have come to rely on one winter at a time for over 76 years.

Andgar isn’t just bringing its heating expertise to Snohomish County, it’s also bringing its way of doing business, which is only experienced nowadays with a family-owned company.

“You can just tell that our owners are people who care about their customers and employees,” said Andgar Home Com-fort Specialist Cheri Groves. “� ey want to make sure that they can take care of what-ever needs a customer might have.”

For that reason, Andgar keeps 20 ser-vice Technicians, 10 Residential Installers, a Plumbing Department and a Service De-partment with 24-7 Service Response.And-gar is a company you can count on.

Although new to the area for residential installs, Andgar isn’t completely a stranger either, completing a number of projects and multiple on-going maintenance contracts from Snohomish High School to the Marys-ville Pump Station, Boston’s and Red Robin in Smokey Point just to name a few.

“We would like to branch out our family into Snohomish County,” said Groves. “We are thankful for our relationship and meet-ing the maintenance needs of Delta Proper-ty Management, we are looking forward to extending our services to their residences.”

While o� ering a number of services from plumbing to heating, Andgar employees also help customers choose which is right for their house. Groves has a few tips on what will help you keep your home comfortable

this winter. Andgar believes you should be able to trust the product you’re buying as much as whom you are buying it from.

Assess your needsWhen deciding what kind of heating sys-

tem you need, it is important to know And-gar works with customers with older homes relying on baseboard heat. Andgar special-izes in retro� t ductwork and is a Snohomish PUD Contractor. You can save energy, save money by taking advantage of Snohomish

PUD incentives.Make sure your ducts are in orderEvery Andgar Comfort Specialist will

inspect your home personally and will per-form a Manual J heat load calculation when necessary. “We do a Manual J load calcula-tion to make sure that we properly size your home comfort system for you, we don’t guess on sizing here at Andgar.” said Groves.

“We actually go down into the crawlspace and measure the trunk line, which feeds the heat runs into the rest of the house,” Groves said. “It’s important for us to see how much space we’re dealing with and the ductwork is properly sized for the home comfort system that we are recommending.”

While not everybody does this in the industry, it is necessary to make sure your house has enough space to handle your rec-ommended Home Comfort System. Also, it is a way to get a better understanding of the condition of your duct system. Part of And-gar’s service is to make sure your duct sys-tems are clean and that there are no leaks.

Brands are importantAndgar is a Trane Comfort Specialist be-

cause of it’s long and successful relationship with the heat pump manufacturer, and be-cause of how strongly Trane stands behind its product.

“Trane has warranties and extended warranties that are the best out there,” said Groves. “Trane is one of those names you can trust because they take pride in their products.”

Going Green doesn’t cost moreAndgar o� ers geothermal ground-source

heat pumps which are the most energy ef-� cient and “green” on the market. But the days where green means more expensive are beginning to disappear. � e technology is becoming just as cost-e� ective and Andgar can pass on the savings to you for being en-vironmentally conscious. Snohomish PUD has great rebates and incentives available for these customers.

InstallationA� er � nding the right Home Comfort

System, making sure that it is correctly in-stalled into your home is the most impor-tant, which is why Andgar provides contin-ual training for their residential installers, and Service Technicians. ANDGAR.COM or call (425) 252-5002

“It’s important for us to see how much

space we’re dealing with and the ductwork

is properly sized for the home comfort system

that we are recommending.”

- Cheri Groves

Cheri GrovesHome Comfort Specialist

Kent Visser is a Snohomish County resident and Service Technician for Andgar for 11 years.

Cheri Groves

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See your independent Trane dealer for complete program eligibility, dates, details and restrictions. Special � nancing offers OR instant rebate from $100 up to $1,000 valid on qualifying systems only. All sales must be to homeowners in the United States. Void where prohibited. The Home ProjectsÒ VisaÒ card is issued by Wells Fargo Financial National Bank. Special terms apply to qualifying purchases charged with approved credit at participating merchants. Regular minimum monthly payments are required during the promotional period Interest will be charged to your account from the purchase date at the regular APR if the purchase balance is not paid in full within the promotional period or if you make a late payment. For newly opened accounts, the regular APR is 27.99% The APR may vary. The APR is given as of 1/1/2011. If you are charged interest in any billing cycle, the minimum interest charge will be $1.00. If you use the card for cash advances, the cash advance fee is 4% of the amount of the cash advance, but not less than 10.00 Monthly payment if shown based on $7,100 purchase.

$99Clean & CheckOn Any Heat Pump Service

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0% same as cash � nancing with purchase of a qualifying Trane system. Call 425-252-5002

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5Consumer Tips1. Longevity —

Make sure you � nd a reliable provider.

2. Connect — Be comfortable with your specialist.

3. Schedule a hearing aid consultation —Good time to learn about your hearing loss and how hearing aids can reconnect you to your world.

4. Don’t skimp — Choosing a hearing aid solely on price can lead to dissatisfaction due to being � t with technology that is not suited for you.

5. Take care — Get your hearing checked annually and your hearing aids checked every 4-6 months.

How to select a hearing specialist and aid

When it comes to health, out of sight shouldn’t mean out of mind, especially when it

comes to your hearing.And it’s not necessarily easy for people to

discern when hearing loss begins. In fact, the specialists at Cascade Audiology & Hearing Aid Center say that’s common.

“For the most part, it’s subtle. Most of them don’t really acknowledge that they have hearing loss, they are here to make their family happy,” said one of Cascade’s Licensed Audiologists, Terry Hergesheim-er. “And one of the � rst sign of hearing loss is the complaint that everyone is mum-bling.”

But di� erent types or varying levels of hearing loss should be treated in di� erent ways, from sudden hearing loss which re-quires same day attention to the gradual loss that your family members insist you take action. � e � rst step is identifying that a hearing loss is present and a hearing aid is the correct solution. Cascade Audi-ology & Hearing Aid Center has laid out 5 steps to follow to select both a specialist and hearing aid.

“Some people can have a small loss, but it can be great because of their lifestyle and that’s how it is perceived when they walk in the door,” said Cascade Licensed Audiolo-gist Shonie Hannah.

People come into Cascade for a wide variety of issues. Such diverse treatment is why Cascade has been in the Snohom-ish County community for so long. In fact, longevity is the � rst tip to selecting a care provider.

“You want to make sure that where you

go has been around a while and will con-tinue to be,” said Brenda Litke, board-cer-ti� ed hearing instrument specialist. “We’re not going anywhere.”

Cascade has been serving Arlington and the surrounding area for 20 years and has been in business for more than 30 years.

While choosing a reliable provider is im-portant, so is being comfortable with the individual delivering the care, which is why Hannah stresses a trust with that person.

“You really want to � nd somebody that you connect with and understands your needs,” she said. “And that’s going to be there with you through the duration.”

You can do that by following the third tip, which is to schedule a consultation even if you are not ready to wear hearing aids. � is is where you learn about your hearing loss, how it impacts your life, and tailored hearing solutions available for you. Your provider should be knowledgeable and have more than one hearing manufac-turer to chose the correct product. Make sure your provider has other solutions for your needs.

When choosing a hearing aid, price should not be the deciding factor but the emphasis should be on the tailored hearing

solution that’s best suited for their lifestyle. Hearing Aids are innovative. Manu-

facturers have products that have several features that work behind the scenes to enhance hearing in a variety of situations. � ere are 6 leading major manufacturers in the market and Cascade Audiology uses at least three.

Each manufacturer has their special features which may or may not need. It is di� cult for one manufacturer to have a product for everyone which is why Cas-cade Audiology & Hearing Aid Center uses more than one leading manufacturer so the precise solution is delivered for each individuals needs.“It’s like running a com-puter, so it’s like trying to � nd a computer for your brain,” Litke said.

“We help them choose the level of tech-nology based on their needs,” Hannah said. “So if you live a quiet lifestyle, you don’t need something very sophisticated, but if you live a dynamic lifestyle, you really need a device that’s as dynamic as you are to re-ally help improve your hearing in all the environments you will be in.”

Finally, treating hearing like the other senses when it comes to checkups is a cru-cial step. “People always think about get-ting their eyes tested yearly, but they never think about getting their hearing tested,” said Litke. “� ey should make it a part of their test battery of getting their eyes tested or getting their mammogram.”

And those who have hearing aids should bring them in every 4-6 months to make sure they are working properly, as well hav-ing them cleansed and adjusted. Call for more information (360) 435-6300.

“For the most part, it’s subtle. Most of them don’t really

acknowledge that they have hearing loss, they are here to

make their family happy”- Terry Hergesheimer

Cascade Audiology & Hearing Aid Center has been providing hearing services to Arlington since 1991 with specialists like Brenda Litke, left, and Terry Hergesheimer.

Brenda LitkeBoard-Certi� ed Hearing

Instrument Specialist

Brenda Litke

13

Cascade Audiology & Hearing Aid CenterA Cascade Medical Group Center of Excellence

(360) 435-6300

Introducing Wi Series by Starkey

Designed to enhance hearing in noise. Wi Series features

Starkey’s latest noise reduction and speech preservation

system, which is designed to deliver more clarity,

even in noisy environments.

Designed to enhance TV & radio listening. Wi Series

can also automatically stream stereo sound directly from

your TV, radio or computer to your hearing aids.

American owned and

operated since 1967.

It’s not just a hearing aid.

It’s also designed to make TV and music

enjoyable again.

www.wi-series.com

Advanced features are designed to:

• Reduce listening effort in

noisy environments*

• Improve listening to music and TV

• Help phone calls sound better

• Not whistle or buzz

• Fit comfortably, designed for your ears

Sound from your TV...

when connected to the transmitter...

streams stereo sound directly to your hearing aids.dhearing aids

14

5Consumer Tips1. Lubricate —

Make sure your door stays sliding by lubing it once a year.

2. Safety Reverse Test — Should be done once a month.

3. Photo Sensor Alignment — Make sure your door responds to obstructions.

4. Take care of wooden doors — Weather can compromise wood, loosen nuts and bolts.

5. Maintain security integrity — Keep security codes secret.

Five ways to maintain your garage door

With new technology linking you to your garage door no matter where you are around

the world, it is becoming more important to maintain your door’s hardware, and to have a local business looking out for your security.

Classic Garage Door Service LLC has been serving local homes and businesses for 15 years and owner Don Culbertson knows his success is because Snohomish County people would rather trust a family-owned business.

“People know that they’re dealing with somebody real,” Culbertson said. “And that is the person responsible for the work that gets done. I’m the guy that shows up, tells you how much it will cost and next week I’ll be back installing it.”

Culbertson said that many of his cus-tomers are relieved to be able to speak to the same person throughout the process, instead of being handed o� to subcontrac-tors.

Dealing with a local family-owned busi-ness also helps a� er the door is installed. If an issue should come up, customers can check out MyBigDoor.com, Culbertson’s website, to get advice, or simply call him up to immediately � nd out what may be the issue.

“Most of the time, if it’s something sim-ple, I try to walk them through it over the phone so they don’t have to pay me to come out,” he said. “Advice is free.”

Here is a list of � ve common measures homeowners can take to keep the largest moving object in a home on track:

Lubricate� ere are 124 spots that should be lu-

bricated once a year on a standard 16’ x 7’ door.

“We come across doors that are so dry that they no longer move,” he said. “People are thinking there is something in the way, but there is just nothing there to get it mov-ing.”

Safety Reverse TestIt is recommended for your safety to do

a safety reverse test once a month. � is is test that makes sure your door will retract while closing a� er hitting an object.

But this test isn’t just for safety. In fact, it

can a� ect the sale of your home.“� is is one of the tests that a home in-

spector will check when determining the standing of the home,” Culbertson said. “And it could turn up as a red � ag on the sale of your home.”

To learn how to perform this test cor-rectly, step-by-step instructions are located on a sticker placed on the door.

Photo Sensor AlignmentAnother safety test that will make sure

the sensors at the bottom of the door track will keep the door from closing all the way in the event of obstruction.

Take care of wood doorsHardware should be checked and tight-

ened every three months on wooden garage doors. � e Paci� c Northwest’s distinct sea-sons can swell and condense wood, work-ing on the nuts and bolts of your door.

“O� en times I go up to a wood door and there are nuts completely missing and the door is ready to fall o� in a section,” Cul-bertson said.

Keeping the paint maintained can also double the life of your door.

“It’s really that important, especially if your door faces south or west because they bear all of our weather,” Culbertson said. “If somebody wants a new door and it will face west or south, I always say go with steel because it will take the weather.”

Maintain security integrityFinally, what good is a garage door if ev-

erybody can get in?Culbertson stresses the need to keep

con� dential information restricted to those living in the house.

“Allowing your children’s friends to know your key pad code is dangerous,” he said. “And if you lose your remote control, your system should have the codes cleared and reprogrammed.”

Now home security can be checked from anywhere around the world with smart phones being able control garage doors, so security is becoming even more paramount.MyBigDoor.com or call (360) 435-8710.

“People know that they’re dealing with somebody real, and that is the person

responsible for the work that gets done. I’m the guy that shows up, tells you how much it will cost and next week I’ll be

back installing it.”- Don Culbertson

Don CulbertsonOwner

Don Culbertson, owner, shows o� his truck that has helped him service Snohomish County for years.

Don Culbertson

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CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITYFOR OVER 120 YEARS

We sit down & offer a consultative approach with a needs analysis.

Newsprints — Retail & Classi� ed, Inserts, Online, Preprints, Special Section & Publication

Contact your Sales Representative:

Marysville GlobeSusan BonaseraSales Manager360-659-1300

[email protected]

Arlington TimesTerrie McClay

Multi-Media Sales Consultant

[email protected]

Teresa LemkeInside Sales360-659-1300

[email protected]

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5Consumer Tips1. Know your audience

— Who are they, what do they want, where do they come from and where are they getting the message from?

2. Plan ahead — Keep in mind exactly what consumer needs you want to serve with your business, and set aside money in your budget for advertising.

3. Research the market and all avenues of advertising available.

4. Print and online ads should be simple, easy to read and communicate only the information that the consumer cares about and needs to know.

5. Consistency — It’s a fact that most people do not act without seeing a product or a message at least six times.

How to make the most of your advertising dollars

One of the � rst steps in knowing how to advertise your business e� ectively is knowing who your

ideal customer is, according to Susan Bo-nasera, sales consultant for � e Marysville Globe and � e Arlington Times.

“You can’t just say, ‘everybody,’” Bonasera said. “You need to be speci� c. Have you sur-veyed your customers? How far away did you think you would draw customers from when you � rst opened your business?”

Bonasera emphasized the importance of planning, not only in developing an adver-tising campaign, but also in starting your business in the � rst place.

“When you opened your business, what did you think would happen?” Bonasera asked. “What was the need you were hop-ing to � ll? How many of you read a story or saw an ad, and it sparked a need you didn’t even know you had? Creating a need for a product is what advertising is all about. If you make a plan and plan ahead, it will pay o� .”

From there, Bonasera explained that a business must make itself visible and avail-able as a means of solving this problem.

“Ask yourself what you’ve done to create better store tra� c,” Bonasera said. “What does your business look like from the out-side? Does it still have its initial energy from its opening? Use a trusted friend who can tell you the truth.”

Bonasera urged businesses to set aside a portion of their budget ahead of time speci� cally for advertising, and to educate themselves on which media yield the great-

est dividends.“Independent research has shown that

audiences react to only 5 percent of the advertising from television and radio,” Bo-nasera said. “Meanwhile, weekly print and online audiences continue to grow. Do you have co-op funds available for the promo-tion of one or more of your products?”

Bonasera listed a set of criteria that every good print ad should meet.

“It should stop the reader from turning the page and sell the product’s bene� ts rath-

er than its features,” Bonasera said. “People buy based on what the product does for them.”

Simplicity is also a key in such ads, wheth-er in print or online. Bonasera underscored the importance of providing all the facts a reader needs to know, without providing too many. � is includes promoting the name of the store or brand, while creating a distinc-tive image for it.

“People pay attention to established brands,” Bonasera said. “� e longevity of a

product matters.”As per her previous points, she added that

such ads should speak to speci� c groups of customers and o� er answers to their current needs, with a particular emphasis on “cur-rent.”

“It has to have a sense of urgency, and to encourage the reader to do something,” Bonasera said. “Fish when the � sh are bit-ing, and � gure out when the best ‘season’ for your business is.”

Whether it’s on a printed page or a com-puter screen, an ad should also be easy to read, with enough “white space” between the words and letters.

“Crammed ads get poor results because readers don’t want to work that hard,” Bo-nasera said.

For � e Marysville Globe and � e Ar-lington Times, Bonasera and her fellow sales consultants provide a variety of options tai-lored to � t their clients’ needs.

“We sit down with them and o� er a con-sultation with a needs-analysis,” Bonasera said. “We o� er spec ads and budget reviews annually.”

Regardless of which avenue you choose to advertise through, Bonasera encouraged all businesses to ask their sales consultants about the demographics they reach and any independent research they might o� er.

“Like many experiences, your expecta-tions need to be discussed, in this case with an advertising advisor,” Bonasera said.

Visit www.arlingtontimes.com and www.marysvilleglobe.com or call (360) 659-1300.

From left, Arlington Times Sales Consultant Terrie McClay, Inside Sales Consultant Teresa Lemke and Susan Bonasera, sales consultant for The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times, show o� some of the publications through which they help make area businesses more visible to the surrounding community.

Susan BonaseraSales Manager

“Creating a need for a product is what advertising

is all about. If you make a plan and plan ahead, it will pay o� ”

- Susan Bonasera

Susan Bonasera

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5Consumer Tips1. Clubs —

Want to try a new technique. You’re not alone..

2. Classes — Create your designer umbrella.

3. Want a new Sewing Machine — The Needle & I o� ers a wide selection.

4. Design — Dreams of “Project Runway”? It starts with sewing.

5. Get involved — The Needle & I is more than just a store, there is a community waiting for you.

Girls just want to have fun at The Needle & I

You don’t have to know whether or not fat quarters are body parts to be able to be a part of � e Needle

& I community in Everett.� e sewing store boasts many of the fea-

tures one might expect including fabrics and sewing machines, among other prod-ucts. � e Needle & I also caters to a grow-ing sewing community — and fun is always around the corner.

“Everett has always had sewing stores, but what sets us apart is that we have so many aspects,” said � e Needle & I owner Georgia Gale. “And it’s more than a store, there’s a community.”

Which is why Georgia outlined � ve ways to make the best use of her store’s services.

� e � rst is to stop by for one of the clubs that meet regularly to enjoy each other’s company while talking about a variety of sewing types — from various embroidery techniques to quilting news — and other topics like Bernina sewing machines. � ere is something for whatever sewers might wish to create.

� e next two tips are for those who are new to sewing or looking to learn new ways to express their creativity. � e Needle & I o� ers classes for all skill levels, but with an emphasis on newbies. � ere are two sec-tions of classes with one focusing on speci� c techniques while the other provides instruc-tion on how to make a speci� c item, such as an apron.

“Even with the technique classes, you’re going to come out with something either

close to complete or with the skills to � nish it,” Georgia said.

Classes can be anywhere from two hours to six weeks — with free chocolate — and those who partake in them can make bags, table linens, quilts and even umbrellas.

“� e classes are fun as everybody picks their own fabric and two hours later they leave having made their own creation” she said.

And sewing is changing like everything else. Georgia said that the recent popular-ity of fashion design television shows have brought in younger customers looking to learn the basics and to turn their dreams into works of art.

“We get a lot of people coming in want-ing to buy their � rst sewing machine to go down that road.”

� e Needle & I provides a pressure-free environment to hone those design skills and a network of experienced sewers to provide instruction and their opinions.

But part of getting started is knowing

what equipment is best for what type of sewer you want to be, which is why Georgia o� ers a wide selection of machines from the most basic to the most complex.

“Sewing is not at all like it used to be,” she said. “We start with the very basic ma-chines and move right on into today’s world of technology with full computerized ma-chines. We’ve got machines as low as $200 and like all great toys move up to $10,000, along with digitized so� ware programs. It’s a whole new sewing world — there’s a lot more opportunity to be creative.”

Lastly, shopping at � e Needle & I can lead to becoming a member of a commu-nity that helps others. Whether it’s coming to the open sewing on Tuesdays to pick up a new technique or make a new friend, all are welcome.

“It’s where people can come to meet other people,” she said. “It happens a lot, whether you’re new in town, you’re looking for some-where to sew or you need a little instruction, we’re here to help.”

And then there are other groups that meet such as the Hand Smockers that participate in We Care where they create heirloom gar-ments for deceased infants, taking one less worry o� a grieving parent’s mind, or Proj-ect Linus which makes quilts for children who are in need.

� ere is so much going on at � e Needle & I that many regular custom-ers are � nding new fun things to do for themselves, or others, all the time.� eNeedleandI.com or call 425-259-3013

“It’s where people can come to meet other people,” she said. “It happens a lot,

whether you’re new in town, you’re looking for somewhere to sew or you need a little

instruction, we’re here to help.”- Georgia Gale

Beth LearyStore Employee

The Needle and I employee Debbie Riebe, left, instructs Susan Green on threading the machine during a beginning quilting class.

Beth Leary

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The BERNINA 830 Limited Edition is the ultimate high performance sewing and embroidery machine that is truly in a class all its own. It is so unique only 4000 will be made, each engraved with its own number. The BERNINA 830 delivers up to 1,100 stitches per minute in sewing mode, and up to 1,000 stitches per minute in embroidery mode, consistently guaranteeing fast speeds, even with wider stitches.

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