Ask The Expert Summer 2010

Services

Services

Buying Good

Buying Goods

Services

Buying Goods

A Resource to Buying Goods and Services

Ask The Expert

An advertising supplement of

Pacific Sun

Services Buying Goods

Contents

Ask the Expert How To...

Buying Goods

2 Find Your Higher Power 4 Buy Tires 6 Improve Your Health Through Weight Loss 7 Make Cosmetic Improvements Without Surgery 9 Choose A Home Pediatrician 10 Mold And Form The Body Through Cosmetic Surgery 15 Choose The Right Power Trimmer 16 Select A Nursing Home 18 Learn About Chiropractic Care And How Can It Benefit You 19 Pick The Right Roofing Contractor 20 Choose An Auto Repair Shop 21 Buy A Bike 22 Shop For Gold And Platinum 23 Boost Your Business While Bettering The Earth

Soul Sanctuary

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Director, Spiritual Healer & Teacher Tune in on KEST 1450 am every 2nd and 4th Wednesday mornings 7:30 to 8am or log on to kestradio.com and click on the live streaming button.

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How to Find our Higher Power on a Chaotic Planet?

How we respond to this change is our choice.

We can choose to merge with our Higher Self and stay connected with each other via love, truth, peace, wisdom and higher guidance—or we can live in fear, hate ourselves, addiction, victimization and in our ego. God or not God.

Can you ask yourself a positive question? What and who do you have to be thankful and grateful for?

T

he ancient Mayan calendar stops at 12/21/2012; this date is rapidly approaching.

Many are predicting the end of the earth’s great cycle that happens every 5,125 years. The Aztecs and Mayans, the Biblical Revelation predicted this, hundreds of years ago. The shift is hitting the fan.

I think to myself, “I must be OK, because my credit cards’ expiration date is 2014. American Express, the Bank of America can see beyond 12/21/2012—what were the ancients thinking?”

The everyday earth events life (time, romances, diets, business, bizarre weather, stock-market fluctuation, real estate, life, death, rebirth, beauty, nature) all continue. However, the universal veils are being lifted and the divine truth is revealed to everyone at God’s speed.

Businesses are here today and gone tomorrow. We have experienced weather changes— some calling this global warming while others call this global cooling. We have seen tsunamis, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes everywhere.

What is our Mother Earth trying to tell us?

We can see the stock-market fluctuation, the media stating that we are in a depression and definitely a recession and that the economy is recovering. We see many corporations moving their business to Asia and abroad to cut their costs, while thousands of people here in the United States no longer have jobs and are cut off from their unemployment benefits. How ironic?

Doctors are prescribing drugs like never before.

Many cannot afford medical care or health insurance.

Change is inevitable! Technology, politics, media, society, weather, the banking systems, health systems, education and our social security are being reorganized. The shift has hit the fan.

Can you ask yourself a positive question? What and who do you have to be thankful and grateful for? Remember the miraculous moments and experiences that you have experienced. Always, thank your Higher Power for being there for you. Today, embracing our higher power is the only answer.

The Spiritual Healing Center offers a community that practices living in the present time and we honor each other’s personal universe.

“All of my relationships have improved since I have had a series of private sessions and began taking Higher Power Healing Courses at The Spiritual Healing Center” —MC “Every time I come to The Spiritual Healing Center, it is like coming home. This sanctuary awakens my inner peace, bliss and joy. —Serafina Andrews “Carol’s healing is nothing short of miraculous.

She is a gift to our planet.” —PT Call now! Call 415-381-4465 or visit our website at www.thespiritualhealingcenter.com. Tune into “Adventure’s in Consciousness” on 1450AM, the second and forth Wednesday from 7:30 to 8:00am, with Carol Eckels-Gaeddert, on the air because we care, since 1988. You are invited! Y

2010 Ask The Expert

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Let Me Tell You About Tires— Because No One Else Does

A

ll things being the same—your first set of tires wears the best! That’s because your car is never again as tight as it was when it was new nor are you as careful with it.

Tires wear according to how and where the car is driven: hills, curves, stopping, steep driveways, teenagers. Almost any tire wears 35,000 to 50,000 miles in a place such as Florida where there isn’t a hill or curve in the whole state. That same tire driven in Marin the same exact mileage will drop two-thirds to three-quarters for the same period.

Please do not be taken-in by the tire mileage guarantees— they are lies.

Tires wear in a hurry. There is no mystery. Tires are wide and low and soft. Tires are capable of saving your life if mistakes are made in the excess of 150 mph—corresponding to a German law on the Autobahn. Tires are capable of performing at these speeds have to be very adhesive. Adhesive equates to soft curves that equates to rapid wear when you have 17-inch, 18-inch or 19-inch wheels.

If you would like to ask a tire question—call Cains Tires at: 453-2942. I will be happy to an-

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swer any questions with the actual facts. Please do not be taken-in by the tire mileage guarantees— they are lies—60,000 to 80,000 mile guarantees are mostly scams and are going to cost you a lot of money.They are a bad deal. People get cheated badly. And it is so easy to come to Cains Tire. Y

My son, Mark, runs the place now with his two sisters, Erin and Rooney.

My grandson, Rick, is working with us also.

There are no tricks or gimmicks with us.

We’ll never advertise with “Tires starting at� or “As low as.�

CAINS TIRE has bargains – We’ll give you a low price and everything is included in the ďŹ nished price.

There’s no pressure to buy shocks, struts or mechanical repair.

There is no place in Marin like CAINS TIRES. We have a “Buyers Comfort Zone� – you’ll feel it!

! " !

2010 Ask The Expert

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Why is Weight Loss Helpful in Improving Health?

O

besity or body weight more than 20 percent above ideal body weight (IBW) can lead to multiple illnesses, including adult-onset diabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, sleep apnea, degenerative arthritis of weight-bearing joints and, ultimately, heart disease and stroke.

Treatment of the overweight condition usually reverses most of the health problems associated with weight gain. For example, achievement of near IBW will generally normalize diabetes, allowing discontinuation of medications used to treat elevated blood sugar. More than 90 percent of overweight patients with diabetes will resolve this disease if weight loss can be achieved and maintained.

Hypertension, or elevated blood pressure (over130/80), is present in most obese patients.

Resolution of the overweight state to IBW will normalize hypertension in about 90 percent of patients, allowing discontinuation of all medications.

Sleep apnea is a respiratory control disease manifest as irregular breathing patterns while

asleep, apneic episodes and chronic sleep deprivation. This affects more than 50 percent of obese patients and is associated with chronic tiredness, daytime sleepiness and cognitive impairment. Weight loss to near IBW will reverse the condition almost completely.

Most obese patients suffer from arthritic complaints of low back pain, and disability of hip, knee and ankle joints. Thirty pounds of weight loss typically resolves knee pain, 40 pounds usually resolves hip pain, and 50 pounds or more typically resolves back pain.

The reduced need for prescription medications, fewer doctor visits and an improved health proďŹ le all contribute to an improved sense of self esteem.

The Institute for Health Management is committed to the successful treatment of the obese patient, so please consider supervised weight loss as your road to improving your health! Y —Robert Park, MD, FACP, Medical Director, IHM

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Medically Supervised Fasting Program 1100 S. Eliseo Dr. St.2 715 Southpoint Blvd St. C Greenbrae Petaluma 415.925.3628 707.778.6019

How to Make Cosmetic Improvements Without Surgery

T

oday is a new era in cosmetic improvements where non-surgical procedures can give you that coveted youthful look. Injectible treatments are a great starting point in your search for “the fountain of youth.� These injections are great for erasing age wrinkles, plumping up lips or smoothing skin around your eyes. Popular injection treatments include Botox and Dysport, which relax the injected muscle, reducing movement and creating a smoother appearance on the forehead, crow’s feet and between the eyebrows.

Dermal ďŹ llers such as Restylane, Perlane and Juvederm reduce laugh/frown lines and can also plump up lips or ďŹ ll in the hollows under the eyes.

However, if needles scare you, there are other options to keep your skin looking young. Fraxel Laser Resurfacing is a popular treatment for smoothing wrinkles and acne scars. The Titan is excellent for tightening lax skin. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments target pigment from sun damage. Wrinkles are not the only concern of cosmetic-improvement seekers. With laser hair removal, men and women

can have unwanted hair permanently reduced, making life much easier without the constant fuss of shaving or waxing. With microdermabrasion and peels, patients get a new glow to their skin. Next time you are looking in the mirror and ďŹ nd yourself pushing excess skin to see the younger you, look into some of the non-surgical procedures that are safe and don’t have the downtime of “going under the knife.â€? With the abundance of new technologies on the market today, it is now much easier and more affordable to look and feel younger.

In their seventh year of operation, the Laser Center of Marin is located on the third oor of the Corte Madera Town Center Professional Building.

They are locally owned and operated. Emphasizing a total approach to clinical skin care, Dr. Skylar Ulrich and her staff offer a comfortable setting with state-of-the-art technology. With their broad array of lasers, they can offer excellent results tailored to your speciďŹ c needs.

For more information, visit www.MarinLaser.com. Y

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Who Said No One Makes House Calls? acupuncture, herbal medicine, infant massage, developmental and nutritional assessments, as well as a variety of alternative vaccination schedules for parents who desire options other than the traditional schedule of multiple vaccinations at each visit. Child’s Light Pediatrics, Inc., while structured around the home, also maintains hospital privileges in Marin and San Francisco. When patients require hospitalization, we supervise and coordinate their care.

S

ince 2007, the Vice Chair of Pediatrics at CPMC, Dr. Oded Herbsman, and former Assistant Chief of Pediatric Hospitalists, Dr. Steve Martel, have provided Marin and San Francisco parents with a new approach to their children’s medical care. Turning in their pagers for cell phones, the Child’s Light Pediatrics practice provides its patients with comprehensive, house-call based medical care and 24/7 access to physicians by phone and email.

“Thanks for having the courage to break out of the healthcare model and create a new, child-centered family well-being model! As a healthcare administrator, I know how difficult it can be to take the leap, and, on behalf of our family, I want you to know how much we appreciate what you do, every single day!”

—C.F. Child’s Light Pediatrics, Inc., provides well child and urgent care appointments with 24/7 direct access to its physicians. Our patients do not go through an answering service or advice line, they have our cell phone numbers and can reach us directly at any time—day or night. We provide all healthcare needs (when medically appropriate) in the comfort of a child’s home, since this is the environment that is most familiar to the child and most convenient for the family.

“This is medicine practiced the way it was meant to be practiced; by exemplary professionals who love their work. The decision to switch to them was the best one we have made so far in our limited parenting career and I cannot recommend them enough.”

—S.Y. Our practice integrates complementary medicine with traditional Western medicine; including 08

{ PACIFIC SUN'S Ask The Expert

“I love their approach to medicine— they really listen to parents and support that we are the experts on our children.” —H.B. In traditional pediatrics today, insurance company restrictions impact the ability to provide holistic, one-on-one patient care. Child’s Light Pediatrics has a different philosophy to practicing medicine: We believe that a close physician-patient-family relationship improves medical care for children.

While our practice does not contract directly with insurance companies, we provide each family with invoices which can be submitted for reimbursement. Many families find that the tax savings from using a Health Savings Account covers the cost of belonging to the practice. However, you may wish to contact your financial/tax professional to determine the potential benefit to your family. We look forward to helping you Bring Healthcare Home!

To request more information about our practice, please visit www.childslightpediatrics.com. Y

Innovative, House-Call Pediatric Practice

✺ Well Child & Sick Visits ✺ Marin & SF Counties ✺ 24/7 Direct Access to Physicians For membership information:

Oded Herbsman, MD, FAAP drherbsman@childslightpediatrics.com

Steven Martel, MD, FAAP drmartel@childslightpediatrics.com

www.childslightpediatrics.com 2010 Ask The Expert

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Molding and Forming the Body Through Cosmetic Surgery

W

ith the rapidly growing popularity and variety of cosmetic procedures, more and more consumers are considering cosmetic surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, since the 1950s, continued improvements in anesthesia, skin-grafting techniques and other medical advances have made cosmetic surgery procedures safer and more popular. From burn victims, to children born with congenital defects, to everyday Americans who want to improve their appearance, cosmetic surgeons help mold and give form to hundreds of thousands of American lives every year.

If you are ready to make improvements to your appearance, how do you choose a physician?

The ďŹ rst and most important step is selecting a surgeon you can trust, who is trained and experienced in all cosmetic surgery procedures, operates only in accredited medical facilities and adheres to a strict code of ethics. If you do your homework, you’ll ďŹ nd that Dr. Armen Serebrakian

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Dr. Serebrakian’s goal is to provide his patients with the best medical treatment possible, and get them back to work quickly. His procedures are safe and well-executed, and he gets not only good, but excellent results.

Are you ready to take the plunge? To learn more, call Bay Area Laser Surgery to reserve your space at any one of several upcoming complimentary seminars. Y

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What’s The Best Way To Lose and Maintain a Healthy Weight? “This program really works...I lost 30 pounds in 42 days. The most important beneďŹ t is my blood pressure dropped and I may be able to stop taking my BP medicine...I have gone from a size 16 to a 10.â€? —A.B.

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o you know someone who needs to lose 20, 30, 50 or more pounds? Read on to see what Naturopathic Medical Doctor Robert Madda, in Tiburon, has to say. “The Thin Change protocol will change your life.

You will lose weight thru this simple and effective protocol. Other ‘diets’ leave you irritable and hungry and you usually gain the weight back. Not so with this medically supervised protocol eating healthy, whole foods. You will feel great, while resetting your metabolism...no stimulants or surgery and a healthy permanent weight loss.�

“I’m a 43-year-old mother of three who tried unsuccessfully for the past eight years to lose weight and keep it off. I found this protocol to be the best “diet� ever! It taught me a better way of eating... habits I will keep for life! I lost 20 pounds, but more importantly were the 20-plus inches that literally fell off my body. My body is completely reshaped.

The greatest part is that I have been able to easily maintain the weight loss - something that has never happened with any diet.â€? —Jenifer Why wait? Call now for your Free Consultation and ďŹ nd out how to treat and prevent obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Insurance may cover all costs.

So if you want to lose weight once and for all, call (415) 933-0131 or visit www. Thinchange.com. Y

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2010 Ask The Expert

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How to Select a Paver Installer

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hen it comes to paver installations, something that Sean Kaslar, one of the owners of the Legacy Paver Group, has been saying for years is especially true today: saving money in the short term will cost you much more in the long term.

As pavers are becoming increasingly popular in patios and driveways they are being embraced by homeowners for their durability and design. On the flip-side, pavers are being embraced by unqualified installers as a way to make a quick buck. Kaslar warns homeowners to “Steer clear of unlicensed installers.” Here are a few things to remember when choosing a paver installer: The secret to a quality installation, and 80 percent of the cost is what is going on UNDER the pavers.

Explains Kaslar: “The lifespan of a new paver driveway or patio depends solely on the base preparation and retaining edges. Incorrect base preparation and a weak retaining edge will drastically shorten the lifespan of your installation. This is where your unqualified, unlicensed bargaininstaller will cut corners—where you can’t see.”

Setting the pavers on the prepared base is relatively easy; when the last of the sand is swept into the joints, the installation will look fabulous. Slowly but surely the effects of the cut corners will start to materialize. Subtle at first, you will start to see the joints between the pavers starting to spread. You will see undulations in trafficked areas. These are tell-tale signs of poor installation, and are extremely expensive to fix.

Work with an experienced designer. With limited or even no experience in design, fly-by-night installers will frequently completely miss the mark when choosing a paver, often trying to sell an overstock,

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or a batch of manufacturers’ “seconds.” Trying to mix multiple colors can end in disastrous results, looking patchy and mis-matched. Hayley Johnson, owner and chief designer of the Legacy Paver Group, has been designing paver installations for over nine years, and has worked with hundreds of homeowners, architects, developers and builders. You have probably seen some of her work, which includes Bay Street Plaza in Emeryville, Jack London Square Ferry Terminal in Oakland, as well as the 2009 HGTV Sweepstake Dream House in Sonoma.

Before you hire a paver contractor: Research, research, research.

This is a big investment, and should not be taken lightly. Ask for 10 local references, speak with, and view at least three of them. Check with the state license board to make sure the license number matches the name of the contractor. Always get a written proposal and a full scope of work. This is the best way to compare bids and make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Most importantly, remember that the installation of pavers is a skilled trade and should be installed and overseen by skilled tradespeople.

The Legacy Paver Group have spent the last 25 years perfecting their process, which is unlike any other, and they guarantee each and every installation with a 10-year warranty. So, before you get excited over an insanely low price, call the Legacy Paver Group and ask them to give you an estimate.

It’s free and you are under no obligation. Hayley assures us that any price lower than theirs is for something less than they offer. And she guarantees that it will come back to haunt you. Contact us at (707) 538-1071 or go to www.legacypavers.com. Y

2010 Ask The Expert

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Are You Under Too Much Pressure?

P

ressure, pressure, pressure—it’s something we all deal with every day. But did you know that your house is under an amazing amount of pressure every day too? The water that comes from your faucets, showers, flushes your toilets, makes ice and washes dishes and clothes does not sit in a big calm pool of water waiting to be used. It is a pressurized system underneath most of your house, and winding through the city streets back to your closest water tower on a nearby tall hill, filled with hundreds of thousands of gallons of water just waiting to burst out of any opening in the system, whether it’s a massive leak in the city main or your kitchen faucet.

Now, quite a few homes have pressure regulating valves on the water line coming in, regulating the pressure of the water in your house to less than 75psi. This is actually a requirement in the current building code, and is also the maximum recommended operating pressure for most of your waterusing appliances, such as toilets, faucets, showers, washing machines, ice makers and dishwashers.

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In fact, some warranties on appliances are void if your water pressure is too high. Also, excessive water pressure will lead to general wear and tear failure on the plumbing under the house and in the walls significantly sooner than if the pressure was normal. What this all means, is that finding out what the water pressure is in your home can save you headaches and money down the road. The easiest way to check your pressure is by going to your local hardware store and picking up a pressure gauge. You need to get one that can connect to the hose bib on the side of your house. Unscrew your hose, screw on the pressure gauge and turn the water on. If your gauge reads anything under 80psi, your pressure is good. If it is over 80psi, either the regulating valve you have is broken, or you don’t have one, in which case a call to your local plumber is the next best step.

An experienced plumber will make sure you have the properly sized valve for your house and the installation is done according to code. Y —Paul Guzman, O’Connell Plumbing

Choosing the Right Power Trimmer

A

ny California resident knows that the fire season is a yearlong threat. This year’s extensive rainy winter has provided much fuel to burn. If you have an abundance of heavy weeds and brush in your yard or just want to do light trimming, it is important to choose the right gas-powered trimmer to create defensible space around your property.

For dependability and value, not to mention power-to-weight performance, a two-cycle gas trimmer is the best option. There are three gas-powered trimmer categories available in the market today. The first is a gas-powered curvedshaft trimmer, ideal for light-duty trimming and edging on a property one-half acre or less. It is very lightweight and lacks some of the power of its bigger siblings.

The second gas-powered trimmer is the straight-shaft trimmer, which develops more torque in the cut with the same size engine. It is also better for taller users and is able to get under bushes, benches and other obstacles.

The third is the brushcutter. It uses bicycle-like handle bars and uses a blade to clear brush and weeds with woody stalks. Both a straight-shaft trimmer and brushcutter are great for half-acreplus areas. For safety, it is best to choose a trimmer with a centrifugal clutch so that when starting at idle the head is not spinning.

There are many heads available for gas-powered string trimmers—from manual fixed-line heads with pre-cut line to tap-to-advance heads that feed line every time you tap the head on the ground. When shopping for a gas-powered string trimmer—or any other gas powered lawn and garden equipment—make sure you consult a powerequipment dealer for accurate advice. Buck’s Saw Service is Marin’s oldest dealer, offering complete sales and service for all your lawn and garden equipment needs. Buck’s Saw Service offers factory sales and service for ECHO, along with other outdoor power-equipment brands, and a large selection of hand tools and safety equipment. Y

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Selecting a Nursing Home 101

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t’s a difficult and emotional decision, placing a loved one in a nursing home. No one thinks, “When I become old, I’ll live out my golden years in a nursing home.” But sometimes that decision is forced upon us, usually under duress. Here are a few of the particulars about nursing homes: A skilled nursing facility, also called a nursing home, provides 24-hour skilled nursing care under the supervision of a physician. A nursing home may provide short-term care, such as recovery after an illness or surgery, or long-term care. Some also provide respite care to give primary caregivers a needed and well-deserved break.

Selecting a nursing home for a loved one can be a challenge. While nursing home staff can confirm vacancies and guide you through the costs (ask about any additional charges beyond room and board), the most important step is to tour the nursing home. Here are some questions to keep in mind when touring a nursing home:

Does the staff interact warmly with the residents and address them by name?

Ask for a tour of the nursing home and see as much of the nursing home as possible, not just the main common rooms and staged resident rooms.

While an attractive nursing home is appealing, it does not indicate that good care is provided to the residents. Instead, does the nursing home appear clean and well-maintained? Is there an outdoor area for the residents to enjoy? Is the nursing home free from pervasive odors? Do the other residents’ rooms appear clean and organized?

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A nursing home is only as good as the staff it employs. Often managers lead tours, but ask to meet some of the nursing staff as well. Nursing staff provide most of the hands-on care and must treat residents with dignity and respect. Do staff members interact warmly with the residents and address them by name? Does the staff appear responsive to resident needs? If too many call lights are on (usually a light in the hallway above the resident room doors) or they are lit for long periods of time, this may indicate that needs are not being met.

Observe the care that is being provided to the current residents. Are the residents out of bed and dressed in clothes rather than hospital gowns?

Are the residents engaged in activities or just waiting in hallways or rooms? Are there residents who match your loved one’s capability to socialize or participate in activities? When residents are in bed, is a call light within their reach to signal for help if needed?

Consider making more than one visit to see the nursing home at different times. If possible, observe a meal to see the quality of food and how staff members assist residents. Observe group activities and what options are offered for those residents who cannot actively participate. A good nursing home will spend the time to introduce you to their services and help you determine if they are best able to meet your loved one’s needs.

Have any other questions about nursing home? Call Linda at Sonoma Acres (707) 9962161. As a service to our community, we are happy to answer general questions about nursing homes or specific questions about Sonoma Acres Convalescent Hospital. See our facility and learn more at www.sonomaacres.net. Y

The Valley’s Finest Skilled Nursing Facility

to t ted ighes a c i h Ded g the are n c i vid lity of e o r p m qua a ho ing in sett like

Located On Three Acres Of Property In The Heart Of The Valley Of The Moon, Providing Exceptional & Quality Care For Your Loved Ones.

Services Include: s (OUR .URSING #ARE 0ROVIDED "Y ,ICENSED 3TAFF 2N S ,VN S #NA S s (IGH 3TAFF 4O 2ESIDENT 2ATIO %XCEPTIONAL 0ERSONALIZED #ARE s !LZHEIMER $EMENTIA s ,ONG 3HORT 4ERM #ARE s 4HERAPEUTIC $IET 7ITH )NDIVIDUAL -EAL 0LAN

s %XERCISE 0ROGRAM s $AILY (OUSEKEEPING ,AUNDRY s 2ELIGIOUS 3ERVICES /FFERED s $AILY ,IVING !SSISTANCE 4O )NCLUDE $RESSING %ATING "ATHING !ND -ORE

Services Available: Dental, Pharmacy, Laboratory, X-Ray, Audiology, Podiatry, Vision, Beauty and Barber Services.

Please call to schedule a tour.

Sonoma Acres Convalescent Hospital $ONALD 3TREET s 3ONOMA #! s WWW SONOMAACRES NET Private Pay and Long Term Insurance Accepted.

2010 Ask The Expert

} 17

What is Chiropractic Care and How Can it Benefit me?

T

he body is the subconscious mind. It is the metabolic end product of all our experiences.

Everything that is unresolved in our life is stored as tension. This tension comes about primarily from thought forms that we condition ourselves to identify with. As more and more of the energy in our energy field gets bound in the body as tension, less and less is available to channel into our work and play. Over time this tension accumulates and, like a straitjacket, tightens and begins to strangle us.

Chiropractic adjustments reduce the tension in the body. When tension is reduced in the body it doesn’t disappear, it goes back into our energy field and becomes available to be channeled into our work and play. Whenever we are overwhelmed—be it physically, emotionally or mentally—we subluxate (sub meaning less, lux meaning light). Energy that was light (consciousness) is converted into matter (tension). We are momentarily knocked unconscious—not “blacked-out,” but rather “not present.” When the overwhelming moment pass-

es ideally we come back to the present, although often we get stuck in that moment and keep reacting like that moment is still happening. We respond to the past and not to the present and therefore respond inappropriately.

Our natural state is a state of ease. The way we maintain a state of ease is by responding appropriately to what is. What is is the present moment.

Whenever we respond to anything other than what is, we create a relative state of dis-ease.

Our natural state is a state of ease The body is always trying to correct itself and when it can, it does. When it can’t, it must compensate. The accumulated compensations eventually bind up our energy in a logjam. Chiropractic adjustments break up the logjam and allow the body to continue the process of self-correction. Y —Richard D. Ehret, DC

Spirit, Mind and Body Integration “I utilize full body adjustments to release tension stored in the body. I search for the source of the problem and address it wherever it is, be it physical, emotional, mental or biochemical.” —Richard D. Ehret, D.C “Dr. Ehret is the most wonderful and thorough chiropractor I have ever been to.” — Kristin G., SF

Save 25% with pre-pay plan of 10 treatments

EHRET CHIROPRACTIC 158 E Blithedale Avenue • Suite E Mill Valley

415.381.2288 Richard D. Ehret, D.C

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{ PACIFIC SUN'S Ask The Expert

Picking the Right Roofing Contractor

W

edge RooďŹ ng, Inc. has dealt with hundreds of construction companies in our 34 years of general contracting in the Bay Area. Accordingly, we have learned how to spot quality from quackery.

Often the biggest hurdle of a construction project is not the physical work itself, but the competency of the ďŹ rm you hire to complete that work. A salesperson may have all the right answers for your project, but that won’t mean anything if their company’s workers are cut-rate. Wedge RooďŹ ng prides itself in employing only card-carrying journeymen and apprentices working toward that certiďŹ cation through our state and federally recognized employee-education program. The competency of the crew working on your home not only affects the durability of the work, it can also mean the difference between a safe and an unsafe work site.

When you hire the cheapest bidder without asking any questions, you might be unwittingly inviting a hazardous environment for your family, co-workers or yourself. Ask your builder some questions:

• Do they have general and auto liability insurance?

If so, are the limits high enough to cover your home and its contents? • Do their crews follow mandatory on-site safety protocols such as fall-protection? • Are all of their employees legally allowed to work within the United States? Can they prove it?

These few simple questions will very quickly weed out the y-by-night companies from the professional contractors, but you still need to do your homework.

Check out the company on the California State License Board website to guarantee they are truly licensed contractors in good standing. After you have ascertained that your contractor is legally licensed with the state, check their standing at unbiased consumer protection sites such as Better Business Bureau (bbb.org). Wedge RooďŹ ng currently holds an A+ with BBB because we go out of our way for our customers and build a true consensus of happy clients. To ďŹ nd a contractor on the site, go to: www.bbb.org. Y

Local and Family-Owned Business

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2010 Ask The Expert

} 19

Choose an Auto Repair Shop

I

f you’re in the position of looking for a mechanic, Jack and Valerie Neuhaus, owners of Neuhaus Sevice, and winners of the Pacific Sun’s Best of Marin 2009-10, say that cleanliness is a trait worth savoring, even in a mechanic.

It’s better to make your decision before you need work done.

Among the first things to understand is that it’s better to make your decision before you need work done. The California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), among other experts, recommends choosing a mechanic in advance of needing major service. Doing so reduces the headaches at the time service is required, and allows you to make an informed decision about your mechanic.

The first step in choosing one is to talk to friends, family and others for recommendations.

Find a mechanic they trust. “If they’re happy with

the shop’s services, chances are you’ll be happy too,” the BAR reports.

Jack Neuhaus also recommends setting up alternate transportation in advance, to keep from selecting a shop solely on location.

“It is to your advantage to ask for an itemized face-to-face explanation with the service writer of the work that was done to your car,” says Neuhaus.

Neuhaus also believes that you should immediately bring any problems to the owner’s attention.

“Discuss the problem with the service manager or owner. Give the business a chance to resolve the problem. Reputable shops value customer feedback and will make a sincere effort to keep your business.”

And remember that. It is your business the auto shop needs, not the other way around. Y

“Best Foreign Auto Repair” —Pacific Sun

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The Dealer Alternative for Japanese & Domestic Cars 20

{ PACIFIC SUN'S Ask The Expert

Buying a Bike

T

he importance of education when it comes to the modern bicycle industry is vitally significant. In this day and age there are many categories and styles of bikes from which to choose. For this reason we must ask the following questions: Who is the rider?

What does the rider want to do on his or her bike?

How does the rider see himself or herself on the bike?

The answers to these questions help to determine the direction for each rider to take.

The fit of the bike to the rider is quite possibly the most important aspect of all.

At Tam Bikes, we assess the riding needs of each individual to more fully understand which bikes may be more suitable for the rider’s needs. We take

10

time to learn about each client so we can match the appropriate bike with its intended application.

It is also imperative to discuss previous injuries and other specific needs in order to prevent any future discomfort. Our staff here at Tam Bikes understands fully how the fit of the bike to the rider is quite possibly the most important aspect of all. Comfort is our goal. This is why we prefer each client take a test ride to ensure comfort on the bike, which also allows us to give a basic fit analysis on each particular bike. We perform a bike fit to match rider with bike and, upon request, have a fit studio for a more thorough professional fit analysis and adjustment. Bicycle technology has blossomed into many niches of bikes tailored to individuals’ specific needs. The bottom line is this: there is a bicycle for everyone that will be comfortable and we would like to help you find it. Y —Bryce Kirk and Quoc Phan

%

off

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2010 Ask The Expert

} 21

Gold and Platinum—the Scoop!

W

e asked Jean M. Jung, a master preciousmetalsmith, jewelry designer and gemologist from Gold Dreams Jewelry-Damselfly Unlimited, to tell us a little about gold and platinum.

Jean has been in the jewelry business since 1966.

She is currently celebrating the 35th anniversary of her business, where she works from idea to completed jewelry piece and all the steps between.

Recycle the gold and make it into a jewelry piece that you love Here is what Jean told us: Pure gold—100 percent—is 24 karat, and because it is soft it is usually mixed with other metals (alloyed) to make it harder and more durable for jewelry. The metal used and the proportions of these metals will affect the karat, the color and the hardness. Eighteen karat is 75 percent gold, 14k is 58.5% gold; copper,

silver and small portions of other metals are alloyed to make yellow, pink and green gold. White gold is usually alloyed with nickel. It is generally not a good idea to sell your gold to the many goldbuying companies that have sprung up since the price of gold has risen. These companies are not well regulated, so a consumer cannot determine if they are getting a fair price. It is better to sell the pieces as jewelry (an appraisal can be helpful), or recycle the gold and make it into a jewelry piece that you love.

Platinum is grey-white and is more rare, dense and expensive than gold. It is usually alloyed with iridium or similar white metals at 90 to 95 percent platinum. Because of its high melting temperature, platinum requires specialized equipment for jewelry manufacture. White gold and platinum look very similar, and each has characteristics that make for fine jewelry pieces. One is not better than the other—just different. For any further questions stop

by Gold Dreams. Jean would love to talk with you! Y

YES! Definitely! Positively!

For Sure! No Doubt About it!

Yes! - We have Pearls, Diamonds, all Gemstones, Platinum, Gold, Silver and affordable gifts.

Yes! - We specialize in custom work created just for you Yes! - We redesign jewelry using your gems and gold or ours.

Yes! -We do jewelry repair and restoration Jean Jung, Yes! - We restring pearls and beads Jewelry Designer, Master Precious Metalsmith, Gemologist, 12-Time International Yes! - We do appraisals Jewelry Design Contest Winner Yes! - We’ll have fun while we work with you, creating quality heirloom pieces

Gold Dreams 864 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., San Anselmo Red Hill Shopping Center 453.3050

www.damselflyunlimited.com

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Damselfly Unlimited

{ PACIFIC SUN'S Ask The Expert

damselflyunlimited@earthlink.net

How to Boost Your Business While Bettering the Earth

R

ight now, over 70 percent of the world’s population is convinced that something serious has to be done about the dangers facing our planet. Most of humanity wants to know how to make the change, but the San Rafael Business Community has already started by joining the San Rafael Clean Campaign.

“I call it ‘reverse litter’— while some people litter, I’m reversing it by picking it up”

— Andree Jansheski

More than 140 local businesses have taken the following Clean Pledge: 1. I pledge to keep my business clean and free from debris, including all public areas surrounding my business.

2. I pledge to have adequate trash and recycling bins and pick-ups for my business functions and my customers.

3. I pledge to educate my employees about proper disposal of trash, the need for a clean business, and provide ample options for disposal of trash, including cigarette butts.

4. I pledge to know and follow all city codes with regard to my business.

5. I pledge to acknowledge my participation as a San Rafael Business Partner to my employees, customers and the general public by displaying brochures or other Clean Campaign marketing materials.

By taking this pledge, these businesses acknowledge that when people have a vision and recognize what can be done to achieve it, they become encouraged and enthusiastic. Andree Jansheski,

owner of Bellam Self Storage & Boxes, says, “It’s important to me that the earth is healthy. I do what I call ‘reverse litter’— while some people litter, I’m reversing it by picking it up. Any business can do it... join the campaign, ‘San Rafael Clean.’”

Avoiding grandiose plans and starting with small efforts have proven successful. For example, by simply putting a trash can outside your front door, customers and passersby will have a place to stash their trash rather than leaving it on the ground. A cigarette receptacle outside the employee entrance reduces cigarette butts left by the smokers on staff. With persistence and determination, San Rafael businesses have made tremendous strides in helping to restore our planet, while presenting a more enticing appeal to potential customers by improving their business’s image and demonstrating their commitment to the world around them. These attempts have been enthusiastically endorsed by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce as good business practices, as well.

Seagate Properties, Real Estate Investment Company, and this year’s winner for the Earth Day Clean Business prize, is always willing and eager to utilize their marquee on Fifth Avenue for promotion of upcoming San Rafael Clean litter cleanup events, proving that no matter how small the effort may seem to be, when done well, it is done forever.

The San Rafael business community’s commitment to boosting their businesses while bettering Planet Earth seems to support the old Chinese proverb: “Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I may remember. But involve me and I’ll understand.”

For a full list of San Rafael Business Partners, go to www.sanrafaelclean.org. Y

2010 Ask The Expert

} 23

A Clean Business is Good Business SAN RAFAEL CLEAN BUSINESS PROGRAM Christine Bohlke Marin Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Libby McQuiston San Rafael Clean Volunteer Events Coordinator Andree Jansheski Bellam Self-Storage & Boxes Cory Bytof San Rafael Volunteer Coordinator Not pictured: Brian Auger, Cyr Miller, Devi Peri and Laurie Sheldon

(Please Read the San Rafael Clean Campaign Story on the previous page)

JOIN US...

4th Street Press Ann Hill Communications Anomaly Design Archer Web Solutions Art Works Downtown Asian Market Avant Garde Awaken Your Body B/R/S Group Batteries Plus Bay Area Green Cleaning Bellam Self-Storage and Boxes Bertolli’s Auto Body Shop BNI Power Lunch Brad Gilbert Tennis Nation California Motors Canal Welcome Center Center for Vol & Non Profit Certapro Painters Chubis Store Clark Services Corporate Media Systems, Inc Culligan of Marin Delicious! Inc. Dominican Garden Apartments Double Rainbow Ice Cream Electronics Plus Elegant Images Photography Embassy Suites San Rafael Encore European & American Auto Upholstery

Extreme Pizza Fair Housing of Marin Family & Children’s Law Center Folk Art Gallery,The Friends Books Gallinas Valley Watershed Council Glass & Sash Green Bee Cleaning Services Guaranteed Alterations Harney Construction Hearth & Home of Marin Heynneman European Hull, Eisenbarth & Associates Image for Success Insight Prison Project It’s a Pets World Jack’s Garden Jasmine Gorton, DMD, Inc Judy’s Automotive Kahl Consultants Kaplan Brothers, Inc Ken’s Carpets Kleindienst Plumbing La Rose Nail Spa Lee’s Let’s Face It Lexus of Marin Lincoln Ave. Apartments Liquid Events Outlet L & M Distribution, Inc. Loch Lomond Marina Lotus Cuisine of India

Luna Latina Inc Marelli Bros Shoe Repair Marin Car Clinic Marin Conservation League Marin County Visitor’s Bureau Marin Filmworks Marin H2O, Inc Marin Kids Consignment Marin Process Service Mary Kay Cosmetics Metabolic Nutrition Mike Testa Plumbing, Inc Mike’s Bikes Minto & Wilkie Insurance Agency Minuteman Press of Marin Mi Pueblo Food Center Montessori In Motion Natural Mattress Store,The Nexcomm Wireless NorthBay Computer Systems, Inc North Bay Moving & Storage Northgate North Star Glass Opportunity for Independence Peets Coffee & Tea Picante San Rafael Pinups for Purpose Pleasures of the Heart Preferred Electric & Lighting Preventive Medical Center Rafael Floors Rafael Video

THE PLEDGE I PLEDGE to keep my business clean and free from debris, including my landscaping, the sidewalks and public area surrounding my business.

I PLEDGE to have adequate trash and recycling bins and pick-up for my business functions and my customers.

I PLEDGE to educate my employees about proper disposal of trash, the need for a clean business, and provide ample options for disposal of trash cigaretteSUN'S butts. Ask The Expert 24including PACIFIC

{

Red Devil Records Relationship Vision Renaissance House of Beauty Renew Computers Robert Ankrum Photography Royal Coach Carwash San Rafael Chamber San Rafael Dentistry San Rafael Luggage Center Seagate Properties, Inc. Shannon Myers, MFT Simple Systems Smith Ranch Homes Snader and Assoc. Inc Sommerhill Townhomes Spotless Cleaners - San Rafael St Vincent de Paul Society T&B Sports Tamalpais NatureWorks Tap Plastics Taqueria San Jose Theresa & Johnny’s Today’s Forever Triumph United Liquors Upper Crust Videozog-S.K.Herzog Co Villa Jewelers Westamerica Bank Whole Foods Zeba Home Of Marin Earth Day Contest Winner

I PLEDGE to know and follow all city codes with regard to my business.

I PLEDGE to acknowledge my participation as a San Rafael Clean Business Partner to my employees, business partners, customers and the general public by displaying brochures, window decals, or other Clean Campaign marketing materials, and in any way.

www.sanrafaelclean.org

*Ad sponsored by Bellam Self Storage & Boxes

We take pride in keeping our business environment clean!