TIDBITS of Spokane County, WA_#604 by John Ortiz

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March 6, 2009

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Issue #604 The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read www.spokanetidbits.com ads@spokanetidbits.com For Advertising Call (888) 884-6371

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An officer pulled over an elderly couple driving far too slow on a busy roadway. “I was going the speed limit,” the husband insisted. “The sign said 20, and my speedometer read 20.” “That’s not the speed limit,” the cop said. “It’s Highway 20.” “I tried to tell him that,” the wife shouted, “but he wouldn’t listen. What’s worse, we just came from Highway 105!”

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Tidbits is hitting the road this week to traverse our nation’s highways, byways, freeways, Interstates, and the larger avenues that allow us the freedom to explore our country. • By the early 1920s, automobiles had become a popular new mode of transportation. New roads sprung up in every direction to accommodate them. Even though a few major routes ran for quite a distance from one state to another, these roads weren’t clearly marked. As a result, drivers often had difficulty finding their way around when they drove beyond familiar local landmarks. • The American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) was formed in 1924. The organization’s first task was to work with the Bureau of Public Roads (part of the Department of Agriculture) to map out a definitive grid of roadways. On March 2, 1925, the two groups instituted an official nationwide highway numbering system. • Before we get into the specifics of the numbering system, let’s take a look at America’s roadway situation during this era. They were not even called roads back then, but rather “auto trails,” and many were a nightmare for both drivers and mapmakers. • In those early days, auto trails were designated by names, usually marked by bands or signs tacked onto utility poles. The first such “marked” auto trail was thought to have been established in 1911, between Council Bluffs and Davenport, Iowa. When it became clear that a marked road helped to guide drivers through populated areas – which was a boon for businesses turn the page for more Tidbits!

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Reusing Wood for Flooring Q: I’ve been watching some home-improvement shows on television lately that advocate “green” building techniques, including reusing wood from other structures for a home’s wood flooring, rather than buying new. What do you think about this trend, and how do I go about doing this? -- Larry in Tempe, Ariz. A: Recycled wood flooring is a good trend, in my opinion, because rather than chopping down live trees to supply the hardwood for your floor, wood from many types of disused structures or other sources of salvaged lumber can be remilled to give it a second life. There is some concern that the current stock of highquality salvaged wood will run out eventually, but no timetable has been given for that. Recycled hardwood is often of better quality than new hardwoods. It’s been curing for many years, resulting in a tighter grain and more stability. Also, much of the current stock of recycled wood originally came from old-growth forests, most of which either no longer exist or are protected, and so you’re getting high-quality denseness and stability that most new woods can’t match. One thing it is not, however, is cheap. Recycled hardwood costs much more than new (Toolbase Services estimates that it runs about $5.75 to $11 per square foot, while new oak flooring runs about $3 per square foot). Recycled wood also must be installed by a professional. Despite the cost, recycled wood tends to be beautiful and durable and a nice conversation piece at parties. If you’re interested in having it installed, many flooring contractors are able to procure and install recycled wood. You should check with more than one contractor, though, get estimates, and ideally work with someone who specializes in recycled wood-flooring installation. HOME TIP: All types of wood floors need the same type of care: Wipe up liquid spills immediately, don’t use harsh cleaners or oil soaps, and sweep, dust mop or vacuum regularly to prevent grit from dulling the finish. Send questions or home-repair tips to homeguru2000@hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

What Goes Around Comes Around When prosperity is in the air, companies reach out. When hard times come, they pull back. For longtime NASCAR fans, there may be a silver lining in the recession that is wreaking havoc with the sport. For 20 years, accelerating exponentially over time, the main goal of NASCAR has been similar to the main goal of churches: Spread the Gospel. The Gospel of NASCAR. The Gospel of the France Family. The Gospel of Dale the Elder, Dale the Younger and Dale the Jarrett. The main goal has been racing for those who don’t like racing. Meanwhile, the message to those who provide the core of the sport’s support has been, “You’ll take what we give you, and you’ll like it.” Don’t let the NASCAR braintrust fool you. They’re very good at what they do, but they’ve been doing the same thing for an awfully long time. NASCAR has been growing since the early 1970s. The last time there were hard times, the Founder, Saint Big Bill of France, was still alive. As the throne passed to St. Bill the Junior, and then to St. Brian the Ambitious, no one had to worry much about failure. The Energizer Bunny really seemed to be in charge, and the sport kept growing ... and growing ... and growing. As noted by many people who went to high school, Abraham Lincoln said you could fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. NASCAR has been basing its strategies on the latter. It hasn’t come to grips with Lincoln’s view that you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. God knows they try. NASCAR has targeted its moves to people who don’t love cars. That’s why, gradually, all of the cars on the track have become just alike. It’s not exactly the Grand Concours D’Elegance out there on pit road. Where once fans lived to breathe the exhaust fumes and experience the earth-rattling roar of the mighty V-8s, now they are mildly aware that their favorite driver’s car has been a different color every week. Where once they stared in wonderment and said, “My gosh, Virgil, I want you to look at the flared fenders on that Galaxie,” now they mutter to themselves, “The

www.spokanetidbits.com only difference is a *#@%^&! decal.” The new fans don’t know the cars they drive don’t have carburetors anymore. New fans think the Chase is groovy because it keeps anyone from having much of an advantage. Old fans really wish they could buy a Chevy shaped like the one on the race track. They wish NASCAR would “let ‘em race” at Daytona. They never saw a debris caution flag they thought was on the level. They neither own nor like dogs they consider lucky. If it weren’t for “Junior,” they’d probably stop watching altogether, or if they did watch, they wouldn’t admit it. Either there are a lot of old fans, or they all write me letters and e-mails. It’s almost all I hear. I’m not sure why they write me. I don’t have much clout. NASCAR seldom does anything other than the opposite of what I write. Now, though, NASCAR is worried. The pie fell out of the sky. A bunch of people don’t have jobs anymore. A bunch of owners don’t have teams anymore. NASCAR might even have to pay attention to the old fans again. Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http://nascar.rbma. com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. You can e-mail Monte at nascar_ thisweek@yahoo.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Die-hard fans pack the infield at many NASCAR races.

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HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS (continued): located along the route – other states quickly latched onto the concept. • The original purpose of an auto trail was to provide the most direct route from Point A to Point B. Of course, it didn’t take long for “enterprising” folks to learn that there was money to be made from these makeshift roads. Oil and tire companies, along with restaurants and tourist attractions, erected their own marker signs. When necessary, these diverted Main Street off its straight course, sending automobile traffic through an area of town littered with storefronts. • By 1917, automobiles had become more affordable, and owners began to embark on occasional “motoring holidays.” To promote tourism, several state governments provided road maps that would guide drivers along the most efficient routes. But the spaghetti-like twists and turns of inconsistently-named auto trails made navigation almost impossible. • Wisconsin was the first state to enact a law prohibiting the naming of a road without consent from the state legislature. The state started mapping out major roads and their most direct routes, ignoring the detours that split off into small towns. They then assigned those highways numbers that would identify them for their entire length. Michigan was the next state to follow suit, adding uniform markers on officially-numbered state highways so that drivers could be confident that they were on the correct path. • The federal government soon embarked on its own road numbering project. As an aid to identification, the AASHO determined that all east-west roads would be assigned even numbers, while north-south routes would get odd numbers. Major east-west routes would have a turn the page for more Tidbits!

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HIGHWAYS & BYWAYS (continued): zero as their second digit, while the largest north-south roads would end with the number one. The organization also announced that there should be no duplications in state and U.S. highway numbers, forcing a few states to re-number their roads and post a new set of marker signs. • The uniform design for U.S. highway markers was adapted from the outline of the shield appearing in the Great Seal of the United States. Initially, each state’s name was printed at the top of the shield, but this led to driver confusion (“Is this a state road or a federal one?”). Later signs added the initials “US” above the highway number. While some states still use this design, the current marker is usually depicted as the route number in black, centered in a white shield outline over a black background. • The Interstate Highway System, championed by President Dwight Eisenhower (and named in his honor), was established in 1956. Three states – Kansas, Missouri, and Pennsylvania – all lay claim to being the home of the first Interstate highway. Missouri bases its claim on the fact that it was the first state to sign the initial contract under the new program, which led to Interstate 44. Kansas, on the other hand, was the first state to pave a proposed Interstate (I-70) under the program. Finally, Pennsylvania believes that its longtraveled turnpike should be classified as our country’s very first Interstate highway. • AASHO invited individual states to submit their own proposals for designs for the markers used for Interstate highways. The winning design – the familiar red, white and blue shield still in use today – was a combination of entries submitted by the states of Missouri and Texas. In a surprise move, the organization also decided to add state names to the Interstate signs. The colorful markers are easy for drivers to distinguish, and since Interstate highways are intended to link multiple states, it made sense to include the appropriate state’s name on each sign. • For Interstates, AASHO duplicated the odd/ even numbering scheme used for U.S. Highways, with a few twists. First, all major Interstates have one or two-digit numbers. Second, the numbers increase as you go from south to north and from west to east. • The southernmost east-west Interstate is I-10, leading from Santa Monica, California, to Jacksonville, Florida. The northernmost eastwest Interstate is I-94, linking Billings, Montana, to Port Huron, Michigan. The lowestnumbered north-south Interstate is I-5, running parallel to the Pacific from Washington state to the southernmost tip of California. I- 95 follows the East Coast, from Maine to Florida. It is the longest north-south Interstate and passes through 15 states, more than any other freeway. • Shorter Interstate routes are marked with a three-digit number. The last two numbers are the Interstate leading to the route, and the first number can be odd or even. If it’s odd, the road is a “spur” that comes to an end at some point. If the first number is even, it means that the route links up with another Interstate highway further down the road.

Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

Page 3

Do not give them any money until you have in your hand – on paper, in writing – a statement showing the amount for which they will settle, and do not give them electronic access to your bank account, either. Once you have this in hand, send them a cashier’s check or money order, and keep a copy of that payment and the letter for the rest of your natural life. If this comes up again, and it (do I pay all of that?) very well could, you’ll have proof of the agreed upon amount, and the fact that you’ve already Dear Dave, paid! I have old credit card debt that goes back a few - Dave years. The account has been sold and re-sold to several collection companies. The limit was (staying ahead of inflation) $300, but with late charges and fees I now owe $1,500. Am I liable for the extra $1,200? Dear Dave, Monica Given the current direction of the government, Dear Monica, I believe that inflation is going to increase draYou agreed to their terms, which included the matically. What are the best inflation-proof inright to charge fees and penalties. Legally, they vestments I can make? can do this. The honorable thing would be to Russ send the company you contracted with a check Dear Russ, for the full amount. Real estate is a great way to go. Single-family However, that company no longer owns the homes, paid for with cash, area great hedge debt, and they won’t get the money. They sold against inflation, because housing makes up the debt. The present holder is just hoping to so much of the inflation rate equation. get something out of it. They buy debt in vol- Plus, you got the materials and everything else ume, dirt cheap, and whatever they can collect – boards, shingles, nails, copper and labor – from any creditor is profit. that go into the creation of housing. These are The current collection company would prob- some of the kinds of things that “inflate” when ably be thrilled to settle for a lot less than face inflation kicks in! value. Make them an offer. Start low. Meet them - Dave somewhere in the middle. You can probably settle this for around $500. * For more great financial advice, please visit www.davesays.org.

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for dogs that will assist veterans with physical disabilities. Run by Bergin University in California, the Paws program gives a needed sense of purpose to veterans with PTSD, as well as the grounding and self-worth that come from knowing they’re working to help someone else. In this case it’s a veteran with physical disabilities. For more information, call PPH at 707-5453647 ext. 28. Steps also are being taken to head PTSD off at the pass, again using dogs. Combat Stress Teams in Iraq and Afghanistan are shipped over with therapy dogs that quickly become popular with service personnel. The dogs serve, among other things, as icebreakers and stress relievers, inviting conversations that might otherwise not take place. For a real treat, do an Internet search for Boe and Budge, two therapy dogs that were sent to Iraq with a stress team.

There’s new ammo in the hunt for a fix for post-traumatic stress disorder. For some veterans, the answers lie in dogs. But not just any dogs. Specially trained dogs are being given to some veterans suffering from PTSD, and in many cases, it’s working. When out in public, the dogs’ presence invites social conversation, yet they will place themselves physically between someone approaching and the veteran, who is likely to still be leery of contact. With the dogs, veterans find that they’re able to leave home without fear and can slowly transition to a more normal life. Many of the dogs are trained in prisons in the Puppies Behind Bars program, where they spend a year with specially trained prisoners [www.puppiesbehindbars.com]. To turn the tables a bit, a group called Paws for Purple Hearts [www.assistancedog.org] allows veterans with PTSD to become trainers

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How Does Your Hospital Rate? It really DOES matter what hospital you go to when you need care. Your life could depend on it. So says the seventh annual study by HealthGrades. This is the same group that tracks doctors, hospitals and nursing homes and assigns a grade for the level of care. Its latest study reveals that your risk of death can be cut as much as 27 percent if you get your care at a “Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence.” To get that designation, a hospital has to pass a long list of criteria. The HealthGrades Web site [www.healthgrades. com] lists by state all of the “Distinguished” hospitals. You can search (for free) for grades on a given hospital for any of dozens of medical conditions. Look for Research Hospitals on the front screen of the Web site. It’s when you want a full report on a hospital that you have to pay a fee. You’ll also have to

pay a fee to check out a specific doctor or nursing home -- it costs money for the report. A much easier way to check on a hospital or doctor is on the government’s Health and Human Services website [www.hospitalcompare. hhs.gov]. The HHS layout lets you compare multiple hospitals, right on the same screen. The information is very comprehensive, too. For example, one question concerns the percent of surgery patients who were given an antibiotic at the right time, within one hour before surgery. This is a small detail maybe, but crucial to one’s recovery. To find out if there is a “Distinguished” hospital in your area, check the HealthGrades Web site and then search for details at the HHS site. Still, if you’re facing a major medical issue, perhaps paying for the HealthGrades report would give you needed extra information. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@ gmail.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Mexican Meatball Hoagies When you’re bored with the same old, same old -- put this on the menu! 8 ounces extra-lean ground sirloin beef or turkey breast 3/4 cup shredded Kraft 2 Percent Milk Cheddar cheese 3/4 crushed Dorito’s Baked Corn Chips 1/4 reduced-sodium ketchup 1 tablespoon dried onion flakes 1 teaspoon chili seasoning 6 hot dog buns 1 1/2 cups shredded lettuce 3/4 cup chunky salsa (mild, medium or hot) In a medium bowl, combine meat, 6 tablespoons Cheddar cheese, corn chips, ketchup, onion flakes and chili seasoning. Shape into 18 (1-inch) meatballs. Evenly arrange meatballs in an 8-by-8-inch microwave-safe baking dish. Cover and microwave on HIGH (100 percent power) for 6 to 8 minutes or until meatballs are firm and no longer pink. For each sandwich, place 3 meatballs on a hot dog bun and top with 1/4 cup shredded lettuce, 2 tablespoons salsa and 2 tablespoons Cheddar cheese. Serve at once. Serves 6. • Each serving equals: 243 calories, 6g fat, 16g protein, 31g carbs, 520mg sodium, 180mg calcium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1 1/2 Meat, 1 1/2 Starch, 1/2 Vegetable; Carb Choices: 2. Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexchanges.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-7668961 to sign-up for our FREE monthly newsletter. All you pay is the shipping and handling. This is the only national food newsletter for diabetics, heart/cholesterol concerns and healthy weight loss. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show March 13-15 Doors open at 10am Spokane Fair & Expo Center 404 N. Havana, Spokane / (509) 891-6533 $5 in Advance $6 at the Door

Inland NW Homeschool Conference March 27 & 28 - 3-5 pm Location: Valley Assembly Of God Church 15618 E. Broadway, Veradale For more information or to register go to www.valleyhomescholars.org

Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA FITNESS

To YouR good HEAlTH by By Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

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Most Older People Have Diverticulosis DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I am a 78-year-old female, active and in good health -- or so I thought. I eat right and never smoked or drank alcohol. Yesterday, a colonoscopy showed severe diverticulosis. The doctor prescribed Benefiber, then left and never returned. I am stunned. What do I do now? Will I have this forever? Am I unhealthy? How does one develop diverticulosis? What the difference between “osis” and “itis”? -- S.K. ANSWER: Your world isn’t collapsing. You’re healthy. You’ll have diverticulosis forever. By age 60, half of the people in North America have it. By age 80, twothirds have it. A diverticulum is a bulge of the inner colon lining through the colon’s muscular wall to its outer surface. A diverticulum looks like a small soap bubble. It’s only 1/5 to 2/5 inches (0.5 to 1 cm) in diameter. You can thank our diet for diverticulosis. We refine flour and throw away its bran -- the outer coat of grain. In countries where whole grains (including the bran) are commonly used, diverticulosis is a rarity. Bran and other fiber hold water in undigested food. Without fiber, the food residue dries and becomes hard. The colon muscles have to generate a great deal of force to keep it moving. That force causes the colon lining to pop through the colon wall as a diverticulum. For most, diverticulosis is a silent condition that remains silent for life. For a few, the diverticulum breaks and causes a local infection in the colon -- diverticulitis. The pain of a diverticulitis attack is usually felt in the lower left corner of the abdomen, and sometimes people have

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fever and chills along with the pain. The attack is treated by resting the tract and by giving antibiotics. We’re supposed to get 30 grams of fiber a day. Fruits (especially those with edible skins), many vegetables and whole-grain products are the source of dietary fiber. If people cannot get enough fiber in their diet, then commercial products like the one you’re taking fill the gap. Metamucil, Perdiem, Citrucel and Fiberall are other examples. The booklet on diverticulosis explains the ins and outs of this very common disorder. To order a copy, write: Dr. Donohue -- No. 502W, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Canada with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery. *** DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband has chronic blepharitis and frequently develops hard buildups in both eyes that cause great discomfort. The doctor must remove them two times a month. What can be done to prevent them? -- S.R. ANSWER: Blepharitis (BLEF-uh-RYE-tiss) is inflammation of the eyelid margins, which become red and crusty. The crust can build up into hard deposits. A twice-a-day program of lid cleansing might eliminate the crusts. Have your husband apply warm compresses (a wet washcloth) to closed lids for five to 10 minutes and then massage the lids. After the massage, he cleanses the lid margins with a cotton-tipped applicator dipped in a solution of one part baby shampoo and one part water. The doctor might have to prescribe an antibiotic ointment. *** Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 328536475.

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Parents, Kids and Pets

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read with interest your recent column about the children whose pet ﬁsh died because they didn’t take care of it. You asked readers how the children could prove to their mother that they’re ready for another pet. I think you’re asking the wrong question. You should be asking when is the MOTHER ready for another pet. Being a child is about learning, exploring and having as many experiences as possible. Because they’re young, their interests change, often rapidly and unexpectedly. It isn’t fair to a child to be forced to look after a living, feeling, thinking being whose requirements don’t change (the dog always needs to be walked, for instance) and whose needs are unyielding (the dog will suffer if it’s not fed and watered). Furthermore, to make a child responsible for a pet is a poor idea on several counts: The child is set up for failure; the pet can experience discomfort at best, death at worst, from being neglected; and the adult can feel exasperation, annoyance and anger

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-- at both child and pet. In terms of dogs, no responsible breeder of dogs will sell one of his or her puppies to a family where the children will be that puppy’s primary caregiver. Neither will a bona ﬁde rescue group nor a well-run animal shelter. This means that the only avenue by which the family can acquire a puppy is from a BYB (backyard breeder) who is clueless about the goal of breeding -- to produce healthy, to-standard dogs with solid temperaments. The only reason to get a pet is because the adults want one themselves, fully understanding and accepting the reality that whatever help their children provide in caring for that pet is a bonus and is not something on which they can count. Thus, I think you need to rephrase your question. -- Dori, via e-mail DEAR DORI: You’ve stated your case very well, and I thank you. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Local Business ~Matters~ Spokane County, WA

From the ordinary to the extra-ordinary

Dr. Jared Evans

Owner /KiDDS Dental Enjoys helping parents “win the war” on kids dental health.

Dr. Kory Bingham

“I gain great satisfaction from serving the children of Spokane.”

As parents we strive to provide our children with the best experiences life has to offer, while still helping our little ones understand there are necessary parts of growing up that they may not always see as fun or exciting. As I grew up one of the things I dreaded most was going to the dentist. The experience was never something I looked forward to as a kid. As my wife and I began to raise our own family we still saw going to the dentist as one of the necessary but not so pleasant parts of our children’s lives. To our delight, we learned that the ordinary dental visit for our children could be extra-ordinary. In this edition of “Local Business Matters” I would like to highlight the fantastic crew of KiDDS Dental where they stand by the mantra kids should “Grow Up Smiling.” KiDDS Dental is owned and operated by two families who are passionate about the importance of educating parents through preventative dental care for kids. What our family has learned is a visit to KiDDS Dental is no normal visit to the dentist. In fact, the minute you walk into one of their two offices you see and feel something very different. At KiDDS Dental the atmosphere is fun and lively. The staff at the front desk is kind and considerate, and very focused on making sure the kids have a great experience. Before the actual examination kids have an opportunity to play video games, read books, play on the slides, and much more. While fun for the kids, and making them feel comfortable is a big part of what KiDDS Dental does it is only the beginning. Their state-of-the-art facilities and caring staff lend to providing the best dental care for kids. The doctors strive to educate parents on how to establish great oral health habits and a program of preventive dental care for the early years of a child’s life, says co-owner Dr. Joel Blake. At KiDDS Dental they welcome parents into the treatment area where they discuss the care of the child’s teeth and as co-owner Dr. Jared Evans says sharing with the parents what is in the best interest of the child in the long-term. So, next time your children are in need of quality dental care be sure to pay KiDDS Dental a visit at one of their two locations. Ask about their 6-steps to Super Smiles and get to know their experienced staff and team of doctors. How would you as parents like your kids to say “When do I get to go to the dentist” (Madison age 6). Take some time and give your “Hometown Kids Dentist” a try Spokane Valley Office 12615 E. Mission Ave, Ste 312 (509) 926-1234

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