Encore

A supplement of the Lynden Tribune and Ferndale Record

Check inside this issue of Encore for stories about events and trips at local community centers, dedicated workers, new technology designed to help rehabilitation patients, holiday meals (as seen above at the Lynden Community Center) and more.

A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SENIOR LIFEIN WHATCOM COUNTY

A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SULFILLING SULFILLING ENIOR SENIOR S LENIOR LENIOR IFEIN WIN WIN HATCOM WHATCOM W CHATCOM CHATCOM OUNTY COUNTY CncorencoreE

Ferndale Record

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

ENCOREC� Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record

Case Voskuilen, left, chats with Michael Spinale over coffee and a hot meal on Monday at Hope Lutheran Church. — Lynden Tribune | MARK REIMERS

When Independence is your goal. If sitting and standing is a challenge, a little lift goes a long way.

FREE DELIVERYand

SETUPin Whatcom County!

(360) 384-3388 | (800) 210-71431904 Main St., Ferndale (Exit 262)

www.samuelsfurniture.com

Power lift and recline chairs by

& MOBILITY INC. Quality Lift Chairs

Calvin BrattLynden Tribune

LYNDEN — The Whatcom Council on Aging is getting back into Lynden with a hot meals program. It’s certainly meant for all who are age 60 and over. And it comes with a special invitation to the Spanish-speaking community without regard to religious preference, said Ju-lie Meyers, council nutrition director. The service started up Dec. 5 and is offered every Mon-day and Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. in the lower level of Hope Lutheran Church, 900 E. Grover St., Lynden. The hot meals are made at the Bellingham Senior Activity Center and brought to the church’s kitchen for serving. “It’s part of our Community Senior Meals Program, and we just want to make the Hispanic population feel wel-come,” Meyers said. The lunch is offered to seniors on a donation-only ba-sis. No senior will be turned away due to inability to pay. In keeping with general policy, those under 60 are asked to pay $5.50. This fresh Lynden effort fits into the Council on Aging’s goal of serving seniors in Whatcom and San Juan counties with nutritional meals, Meyers said. Lynden becomes the

Lynden’s Hope Lutheran Church hosts meals on Mondays and Thursdays

Senior hot meals service includes special invite to Spanish speakers

C�ENCORE Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record

1610 Grover Street, Suite B9

www.BellinghamDentureClinic.com360.318.0880

Clayton Sulek

Licensed DenturistSince 1986

FULL DENTURE SERVICES• Precision Dentures• Partials - Cast Metal & Resin• Implant-Supported Dentures• Repairs, Relines & Soft Liners• Emergency & New Patients Always Welcome

Visit our Bellingham Location at 2003 N. State St., Suite B

Free Consultationor Evaluation

of your current dentures.Please call for appointment.

13th site for food service, she said. Ferndale, Blaine, Everson, Sumas and Point Roberts already have some form of hot meals service, whether by delivery from Bellingham or with a cook on-site at their own senior centers. The Lynden Senior Center was tied into the county senior nutrition network until the fall of 2009. At that point Lynden decided it could run a successful hot meals program every day out of its own kitchen, even delivering some meals to homebound seniors in the Lynden area. That self-stand-ing independent program continues. Meyers said that the new service isn’t meant to get entangled with issues of the past or to compete with what exists. “Basically, we’re trying to meet the nutrition needs in the northern part of the county,” she said. “There is a need out there.” The response was “slow” through the first three days of service in December, but publicity is still getting out through vari-ous channels, Meyers said. “It’s the word of mouth that really counts,” she said. Flyers posted at churches, food banks and clinics are in both English and Spanish. There is no need to give advance notice — people can just come to the meals on the two days. If demand picks up, the meal prepara-tion could eventually be done right in the Lutheran church kitchen, Meyers said. A $10,000 grant through the Whatcom Community Foundation helped to get this effort off the ground in 2011. Some funding for senior nutrition programs comes from the federal government.

Bellingham and Ferndale senior centers organize various trips throughout the yearMark ReimersLynden Tribune

WHATCOM — Planning a trip is a chore for anyone. But for many seniors, the hassle of picking an activity, itiner-ary and parking is even more of a hassle given the limitations that sometimes ac-company age. That’s why the monthly day trips hosted the Ferndale Senior Center have become so popular, said Director Lacey Greene. In fact, a representative of the Lynden Senior Center said that members there often make use of the Ferndale trips for recreation. One of the biggest draws to the Fern-dale hosted trips, Greene said, is the fact that they require no stressful planning on the part of the participants. Instead, from the moment the group boards the bus, to the time they return, everything is taken care of for them. The Ferndale Senior Center’s next trip will take a busload of shoppers down

to the Tulalip Casino and Seattle Outlets on Jan. 25. The bus for that event will leave the Ferndale Senior Center at 10 a.m. and return at about 6 p.m. Final per-person costs haven’t been finalized but Greene expects it to be $25-$30. The following trip, set for Feb. 29, will be a tour trip to Boeing’s Paine Field in Everett. Attendees will get a 90-minute tour of the world-class aircraft manufac-turing facility. “Boeing’s the second largest manu-facturer of aircraft in the world and they are right in our backyard,” Greene said. The trip, which will include a box lunch, highlights another aspect of what these trips can offer, Greene said, and that is just the opportunity to explore and experience new things in life. The March trip is equally informative, as it takes participants down to Seattle for a tour of the Channel 9 news TV station. After that, April will allow seniors an opportunity to experience the Skagit Val-ley tulip fields in bloom. Greene said the trips are not exclu-sive to members of the Ferndale Senior Center and technically aren’t only for se-niors. However, one additional perk that may be a draw for many regular trip par-ticipants, Greene said, is the chance to ex-perience something with a group of good

friends. For more information on Ferndale Senior Center day trips, call the center at 384-6244. The Bellingham Senior Activity Cen-ter, 315 Halleck St., also hosts the What-com County Tour Program. That center offers an even higher fre-quency of trips that take participants all over the Puget Sound area. The next three area trips are: • Jan. 27 — Tulalip Casino Trip: The bus departs from Bellingham Se-nior Activity Center at 9 a.m. and returns at 4:45 p.m. A cost of $39 is due ahead of the trip, with $5 additional charge for non-members. Legal photo ID is required. • Jan. 31 —Tea Time and Art Viewing in La Conner: Enjoy exploring gift shops and out-door sculptures, tea with all the goodies as well as a tour of the Museum of North-west Art. Bus leaves at 12:30 p.m. and re-turns at about 5 p.m. The cost, due ahead of time, is $49, with an additional $5 fee for non-members. • Feb. 10 — Northwest Flower and Garden Show: Get a sneak peak at the newest gar-dening ideas. Enjoy display gardens, ex-hibitors and seminars held at the Seattle

Tour opportunities abound for local seniors

See TOURS on C5


Open enrollment offers a chance to take a fresh look at possible savings in em-ployee medical plans. — Courtesy photo

Open enrollment is the time of year when employees have the opportunity to review and select their benefits pack-age for the following year. It is especially important for employees to know their companies’ open enrollment schedule, which typically takes place between September and December, because if they miss it, they might not be able to change their health benefits until the following year. In making their benefits decisions, people typically don’t spend very much time researching their options.

“Consumers who don’t take the time to review and understand their benefit options might be leaving a lot of money on the table,” said Yasmine Winkler, se-nior vice president of a major healthcare coverage provider. When choosing your benefits this open enrollment season, the follow-ing tips could help improve your health while also putting money back in your wallet: 1) Look for incentive-based wellness programs. Many companies are now of-fering wellness programs that reward employees for making healthy choices and being more personally engaged in improving their health. Incentive-based health plans may provide financial and other rewards for lowering your choles-terol, losing weight or even signing up for a health coaching program or gym membership. 2) Open a Health Savings Account. More employers are offering health plans that include a Health Savings

Account option. A Health Savings Ac-count, or HSA, is like a personal bank account specifically for health-related expenses: you own all the money in it, including contributions from your em-ployer. And, unlike a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), HSAs have no “use it or lose it” provision. They also offer a triple tax advantage: money is deposited pre-tax from your paycheck, accrues interest tax-free, and withdrawals are not taxed as long as funds are used for health-re-lated expenses. 3) Get preventive care. The new health care reform law requires non-grandfathered health plans to cover pre-ventive care with no cost sharing by the consumer. These services — which in-clude children’s immunizations, annual physicals, mammograms and colonos-copies — may help you stay healthy and increase your chances of detecting pos-sible future health risks earlier on. 4) Compare treatment costs. Some health plans offer tools to estimate your health care costs. Some tools also en-able you to compare the quality ratings among physicians who participate in your health plan’s network, in addition to their cost. 5) Don’t overlook other important benefits. Many employers offer a variety of supplemental or voluntary benefits that can also put money back in your wallet. Critical illness and disability plans are designed to protect your income and help pay bills in the event that you are out of work for extended periods of timedue to illness. The average cost of these plans can cost as little as $7 per month while providing thousands of dollars in coverage. In addition, dental and vision plans typically cost only about $1 per day combined but cover annual clean-ings and eye exams, and offer reduced pricing on frames and lenses. Many employers and health plans offer resources at no additional cost to help you navigate through this open enrollment period. This year, don’t miss the opportunity to review your benefits and save some money while taking steps toward better health.

“Consumers who don’t take the time to review and understand their benefit options might

be leaving a lot of money on the table.”

— Yasmine Winkler

Put money back in your pocket during open enrollment

Colony HouseFURNITURE

Lift Chair Blowout!

(360) 354-5554411 Front Street, Lynden

DELIVERY & FINANCINGAVAILABLE OAC

Many in-stock and ready to deliver!

Starting at $59900

(reg. $79900)

Don’t wait!Lots of colors & fabrics!

Sale ends December 31, 2011.

(360) 354-5554411 Front Street, Lynden

Call today 354-4444 Or log on to

www.lyndentribune.com

The simplest way to access your community news online.

Whether it’s a specific local story, milestone or sports news, one click will get you access to many of our articles on The Lynden Tribune Web Site. See for yourself how easy it is to connect with your local media - today!

The Lynden Tribune Web Site.


Tours: Ferndale trips are once per monthContinued from C3

Convention Center. The bus departs at 9 a.m. and returns at 5 p.m. Final payments of $63 are due Thursday, Feb. 2, with an additional $5 fee for non-members. A much bigger trip, courtesy of the Whatcom County Tour Program, a Euro-pean Riviera Cruise Tour, will be held May 3-11. Tour the Italian, French and Spanish Riviera aboard Holland America Cruise-line. See Citivecchia, Santa Margheritta, Trapani, La Goulette, Barcelona and Mon-te Carlo. Costs range from $2,899 to $3,299 depending on accommodations. Travel in-surance is $150 per person. Final payment is due by Jan. 4. Trip includes roundtrip airfare from SeaTac to Rome, all taxes, transportation, cruise, optional shore excursions, meals on board the ship and an escort while cruising. For more information about the What-com County Tour Program, call 733-4030, extension 47015. Email Mark Reimers at [email protected].

Each year, millions of seniors are able to enroll into a new Medicare prescrip-tion drug plan (PDP), and the vast num-ber of available options can make this a daunting task. Choosing a Medicare pre-scription plan can seem confusing, so the more you know, the easier it will be to find one that makes the most sense for you. Two of the most important aspects to keep in mind are whether the plan can help you save money and whether it pro-tects your health. When searching for the right plan, it’s important to look beyond the monthly premium. To help make the process less overwhelming, ask yourself which fea-tures are most important for you. Here are a few to consider: What is the plan’s CMS Star Quality Rating? Each year, the Centers for Medi-care & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Part D plans to help you com-pare the overall quality of plans and make a more informed decision. Based on com-ments from plan members and other fac-tors, CMS continually “raises the bar” in how they review each plan’s performance in several categories, such as customer service, patient safety, and member ex-perience. Star ratings range from 1 star (poor) to 5 stars (excellent).

Most prescription drug plans receive an average rating of 3.1 stars. Does the plan tell you when there are lower-cost alternatives available, such as generics? Many brand-name drugs are scheduled to go “off patent” in 2012, which means that there may be new ge-neric medications available. The total cost of a generic drug can be up to 80 percent less than a brand-name drug. By simply asking your doctor if a generic is available, you could save hundreds of dollars and significantly de-lay reaching the coverage gap — the dol-lar amount where your coverage runs out until you reach the designated cata-strophic level where it kicks back in. Does the plan offer coverage gap alerts? In 2012, in a standard Medicare prescription plan, once your drug costs (what you pay plus what your plan pays) reach $2,930, you will enter the coverage gap. Choose a plan that gives you the op-portunity to learn how close you are to the gap — whether through written ma-terials, phone calls or email alerts — and provides solutions for lowering overall prescription costs that will help to delay entry into it. Does the plan have online tools? Check into plans that have a suite of

online tools for cost comparisons and to ensure safety. Some plans offer tools that alert you when they are taking two medications that don’t work well together and could be potentially harmful to your health. Does the plan provide access to clini-cal specialists? Look for a plan that not only provides 24-hour access to in-house Medicare advisors, but also to clinical spe-cialists. They will be best suited to advise beneficiaries on prescription therapies as well as discuss lower-cost options. Find-ing a plan that includes both Medicare and clinical specialists provides greater value for your healthcare dollar. Does the plan offer money-saving options? Some plans feature a $0 co-payment for a 90-day supply of generic medications by mail while in the cover-age gap, a great way to lower costs during this benefit stage. Access to a mail-order pharmacy allows for the convenience of medications to be delivered directly to the home. Mail order can often provide a three-month supply of medications for nearly 30 percent less than buying a one-month supply three separate times at re-tail. For more information, visit www.Medicare.gov.

Choosing the right Medicare plan: Look beyond premiums

113 Third Street • Lynden

Would you like to have a “Home”for all your Insurance & Financial Needs?

Simplify Your Life!™

Call us today!354-5333

Neither LIFE Planning, nor their employees are associated with the US Government or the Medicare program.

Simplify Your Life! ™

Our Local, Experienced team offers Personal Service for:

• Insurance & Financial Consolidation• Medicare Plans• Long-Term Care• Retirement• Special Needs

• Estate Planning• Pre-Retirement• 401K Rollovers• Charitable Giving


LifeGait device assists Christian Health Care Center physical therapists

Center has Whatcom County’s only LifeGait north of Mount VernonBrent LindquistLynden Tribune

LYNDEN — Patrons at the Christian Health Care Center’s award-winning re-habilitation department may notice a new piece of equipment amid the tread-mills and exercise hardware. That’s the LifeGait, a partial-weight-bearing gait therapy device that arrived

at the care center about a month ago. The therapists and assistants there have already seen the machine’s benefits after just a few weeks of use. The LifeGait provides two primary tenets that enhance its benefit exponen-tially: versatility and, most importantly, safety. The device allows the physical therapist to harness patients in and help them in a wide variety of ways. “We use it on patients with hundreds of different diagnoses,” said center physi-cal therapist Andrea Blois. These diagnoses can vary wildly, from strokes to hip replacements to or-thopedic injuries. The LifeGait allows physical therapists to adjust the weight being put on each leg depending on a patient’s condition. From there, the pos-

sibilities are many. Patients can use the machine to im-prove their gait patterns following an in-jury, with adjustments made depending on which part of the body is injured. The machine encourages an upright posture, and therefore helps with posture altera-tions that might be necessary following an injury. The LifeGait can even be taken on a treadmill. The LifeGait machine at the health care center allows the physical therapist to rotate the patient around, allowing practice walking side to side and back-wards. This helps facilitate balance and stability. “It also keeps patients safe and your hands free,” Blois said. The primary benefit, of course, are the fall-free conditions the LifeGait al-lows. Instead of requiring two or more physical therapists and assistants to help a patient move around a room, the LifeGait provides a secure way to hold a patient in place, only requiring one physical therapist at a time. The machine keeps the patient upright instead of the physical therapist, and this frees up the therapist’s hands to make adjustments and generally work with the patient. “The end result is, they can walk with more balance and less falls,” Blois said.

“Patients can get to a higher level faster.” One of the primary goals at the cen-ter is to help rehab patients to progress to the “least restrictive device,” whether that’s a cane or a walker or some other option. “(Lifegait) allows them to take that step sooner to a less restrictive device if that’s a possibility,” Blois said. The LifeGait expedites each ses-sion as well, as it takes just two minutes to harness a patient into the machine. It also eliminates the time that would be

taken helping patients out of seats and across rooms. “It just encourages those behaviors that we as physical therapists are trying to encourage,” Blois said. “Our goal is, of course, to get them home or independent faster, if that’s a possibility. It just covers a whole realm of patients and conditions.” The Christian Health Care Center has the only LifeGait north of Mount Vernon. Email Brent Lindquist at [email protected].

LifeGait allows the physical therapist to harness patients in and help them in a

wide variety of ways.

(360) [email protected]

Specializing in Senior Health:

S

In-HomeAppointments!

12 YearsExperience!

www.pamhansoninsurance.com

Pam Hanson INSURANCE SOLUTIONS

“Need Help Getting YourMedicare Coverage Set Up?

I Can Help – Give Me aCall Today!”

Do you have a loved one who needs help at home?

360-543-5777Sue Sorensen, Director

[email protected] www.takemyhandathome.com

Our services include:

Hourly, Respite & Long-Term Care

We help you carry on.

Physical therapy assistant Kari Van Loo helps physical therapist Paul Nichols demon-strate the LifeGait at the Christian Health Care Center. — Lynden Tribune | BRENT LINDQUIST


RN celebrates milestone at Christian Health Care CenterNellie Vander Kooi began as a teen in Aug. 1971

Nellie Vander Kooi celebrated her 40th year working at the Christian Health Care Center this year. Her first day was Aug. 11, 1971. — Tribune photo | BRENT LINDQUIST

Bring in this ad and receive

$10.00 offan over-the-counter item

with the transfer ofany prescription toCustom Rx Shoppe.

Expires 1-31-2012.

1313 E. Maple St. Suite 101, Bellingham, WA 98225 Located behind Boomers Drive-In, just off Samish W

www.customrxshoppe.com

• FREE Daily Deliveries

• Medicare & DSHS Billing

• L & I Claim Filing

• Customized Medication Assistance forRetail & Long Term Care Customers

• Compounded Medications for You & Your Pets

• Wide Variety of Over-the-CounterMedications & Home Health Equipment

• Immunization Clinic - more than 15 vaccinations available

Your Family Friendly, Locally Owned & Operated Retail, Long Term Care and

Compounding Pharmacy

Home of the Synchronized Prescription ProgramWe will match up all your prescriptions to be due at the same time, automatically fill them on that set day each month, and deliver them right to your home—at no charge!

FREEDELIVERY

anywhere inWhatcom, Island &

Skagit Counties6 Days a

week!

Brent LindquistLynden Tribune

LYNDEN — Nellie Vander Kooi still remembers the day she began working for Lynden’s Christian Health Care Center. “I got a phone call at 11:30 a.m., and they basically told me to be at work at 3:00,” she said. That was on Aug. 11, 1971, when the center hired her on as a nursing assistant. The position served as on-the-job training while she waited to be accepted into the RN program at Everett Community Col-lege. She had also studied in Dordt Col-lege’s pre-nursing program prior to that. Still just a teenager, she continued to work primarily on the weekends after start-ing at Everett Community College, where she completed the nursing program. The care center was located on B.C. Avenue back then, and that’s not the only change Vander Kooi has seen over the years. She said many processes and regu-lations have changed and changed again over the years, making versatility in the nurse position a necessity. For that reason, no two days are ever the same at the Christian Health Care Cen-ter. “You never have an agenda because you never know what’s going to show up,” Vander Kooi said. “You have to deal

with the pressing matters. Some days are crazier than others. You just roll with the punches.” Her jobs and positions have varied through the decades, though the RN title has stayed constant. Currently she serves as a unit coordinator. She has also worked many different schedules and in vari-ous departments around the care center. Though she primarily works days now, she worked nights and weekends while work-ing through Everett’s RN program. Over the years, she has seen a very wide variety of people come through the care center. “I’ve taken care of at least two genera-tions of people,” Vander Kooi said. Throughout her 40 years of work and care, those people have remained her fa-vorite part of the job. She considers it a gift to be able to work with so many people in the later seasons of their lives. “After 40 years, you do start thinking about retirement, but these residents are always going to have a special place in my heart. Being here in Lynden especially, there are a lot of people who are so ready to go home. In that sense, it’s an honor and a privilege to walk that last part of the jour-ney with them.” Email Brent Lindquist at [email protected].


Holiday decorations can be the fire hazard that homeowners fail to take into account. — Courtesy photo

Mount Vernon Office1222 Riverside Drive(360) 424-6777Toll Free 888-264-3528

Everett Office2532 Wetmore(425) 348-9914Toll Free 866-348-9914

Bellingham Office4213 Rural Ave.(360) 671-8388Toll Free 866-522-6435

Each year, 420 home fires occur during the holiday season, claiming the lives of 21 people and injuring 43, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Here are 12 tips for a safer holiday to help reduce the chance of becoming a holi-day fire casualty: 1) Maintain your holiday lights — In-spect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting approved by a verified testing laboratory. 2) Don’t overload electrical outlets — Do not link more than three light strands, unless the directions indicate it is safe, or you can risk putting too much strain on the power source. For additional protec-tion, connect strings of lights to an exten-sion cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires — they should not be warm to the touch. 3) Water that tree — Christmas trees account for 250 fires annually, resulting in 14 deaths, 26 injuries and more than $13.8 million in property damage, according to the U.S. Fire Association. Typically, tree fires are started by shorts in electrical lights or open flames from candles, lighters or matches. Dry and neglected trees can in-crease your risk, while well-watered trees help to reduce the chance of any issues.

Deck the halls ... carefully please


Along with a new name, we’re bringing you new and interesting articles pertaining to active senior lifestyles.Look for Encore in your Tribune on the following dates:

2012 Publication Dates:Feb. 15th, May 16th, July 18th, Oct. 24th, Dec. 26th, May 16 , July 18

354-4444

A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SENIOR LIFE IN WHATCOM COUNTY

384-1411

A GUIDE TO A FULFILLING SULFILLING SULFILLING ENIOR SENIOR S LENIOR LENIOR IFE IN WIFE IN WIFE IN HATCOM WHATCOM W CHATCOM CHATCOM

ncoreA G

ncorencoreEIntroducing:

4) Avoid using lit candles — Open flames create many opportunities for harm particularly when kids and pets are in the house. However, if you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning and never go near a Christmas tree with an open flame from candles, lighters or matches. 5) Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you leave the kitchen for even a short period, turn off the stove. 6) Keep your mitts off — Keep anything that can catch fire — potholders, wooden utensils, paper or plas-tic bags, food packaging, towels or curtains — away from your stovetop. 7) Watch the oven — In case of an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the oven door closed to prevent flames from burning you or your clothing. 8) Use turkey fryers outdoors, a safe distance from buildings and any other combustible materials. 9) Use only nonflammable decorations and ensure they are placed away from heat vents. If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant. 10) Quickly discard gift wrap and packaging from your opened gifts as wrapping paper is very flammable. Never burn gift wrap in the fireplace or wood stove. It can ignite suddenly and cause a flash fire. 11) Throw it out — Never put tree branches in a fire-place or wood-burning stove as these items may ignite quickly, starting flash fires. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service. 12) Have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. No matter how you celebrate, following these 12 tips to a safer holiday can help ensure that you, as well as your friends and family, enjoy a safe, joyful holiday season. Email Mark Reimers at [email protected].

While you’re trekking through the malls or cruising websites looking for great holiday bargains, it may be difficult to remember that not everyone around you is as caught up in the holiday spirit as you are. Some of your fellow shoppers may actually be identity thieves looking to parlay the season’s hustle and bustle into an opportu-nity to steal your personal information and, ultimately, your money. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that identity theft — the unauthorized use of your personal identifying information, like your name, Social Security number or credit card number, to commit fraud or other crimes — is approaching 10 million incidents per year. According to the FTC, on average, it takes a victim an estimated $500 and 30 hours to resolve each inci-dence of identity theft. No one wants to lose that kind of money at any time of year, but those time and monetary costs can be even more stressful during the holidays. “The holidays present a wealth of opportunity for identity thieves,” said Heather Battison, a senior direc-tor at a credit and information management company. “The hectic holiday season can potentially expose our personal information to theft in both high-tech ways like phishing scams, and in traditional ones, such as a stolen wallet or mail theft.” Fortunately, there are proactive steps you can take now, that will help minimize your exposure to identity theft. These tips are especially important during the hol-iday season: • When holiday shopping, only carry essential docu-ments with you. Only take your driver’s license and the

credit card or cards you intend to use that day. Do not carry your Social Security card, birth certificate or pass-port, and consider leaving at home other types of cards that may have identifying information on them, like wholesale club cards or library cards.

• The holidays mean plenty of extra trash. Shred ev-erything that contains personal, identifying information before throwing it out. • Keep a close eye on your credit card bills. This is especially important during the holidays, when close at-tention can help you catch any charges you don’t recog-nize on your statement. An added bonus — you’ll also be more aware of how much you’re spending and be better prepared to stay within your holiday spending budget. • Monitor your credit. Consider enrolling in a credit

Prevent identity theft this holiday season

“The hectic holiday season can potentially expose our personal

information to theft in both high-tech ways like phishing scams, and in traditional ones, such as a stolen

wallet or mail theft.”— Heather Battison

See IDENTITY on C11

ENCOREC10 Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record

A little Christmas flavorTips for smooth and successful holiday travel

Planning a surprise visit to the grand-kids for the holidays or a family trip to cel-ebrate the new year? Holiday travel can be stressful, but with some careful planning, it can be full of joy, instead of headaches. Check out these holiday travel tips to help you get through this busy time with ease. • Avoid peak travel dates. You will of-ten find the best prices and lowest num-bers of travelers if you fly on the holiday itself instead of the day(s) before. If pos-sible, travel on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and avoid a return flight on the Sunday evening after a holiday weekend. Choose wisely the time of day you travel as well. As a rule, airports are least con-gested in the mornings and later at night. • Be flexible and have a positive atti-tude. The No. 1 rule while traveling over the holidays is to be prepared for the un-known and have back-up plans. It's al-ways smart to anticipate and plan for de-lays. Pack extra snacks, a good book, your cellphone charger, games for the kids and try to relax if you are faced with an un-planned event. • Pack wisely. Decide well in advance of your flight if you will check or carry on your luggage and plan accordingly. If you decide to carry on, be sure to follow TSA rules about liquids and don't stuff your bag over its capacity. If you opt to check luggage, be prepared to pay extra fees and again, pack as light as possible so you can manage your luggage. • Carry on the essentials. Carry a backpack as your personal item in order to keep your hands free. Make sure it's filled with essentials for you and your family. The contents of your carry-on should cover hunger, thirst, boredom, spills, sickness and tiredness. • Become a tech-savvy traveler. Take advantage of technology. Whenever pos-sible, print your boarding passes at home or use check-in kiosks. The earlier you check in, the better seats you will get. Think about doing your holiday shop-ping online and having your gifts shipped to your destination. This will cut down on luggage and the risk of gifts getting lost. Have the airlines send you an email or call you if your flight is delayed. Or, sign up for a service like Flight Tracker on your phone where you can get flight status up-dates within minutes. Make sure phones, music players, portable DVD players, etc. are fully charged and pack chargers for use at your destination. • Make health a priority. Make sure that you eat well and rest before you trav-el. Pack healthy snacks, hand sanitizer or wipes, tissues, etc. • Leave early. Plan your journey to the airport accounting for enough time for long security lines, traffic, full parking lots, etc., and then give yourself an extra 30 minutes to help alleviate stress from any peripheral delays you may encoun-ter.

• Practice makes perfect. If you're traveling with children, help to prepare them in advance for the journey by role playing and explaining things like remov-ing shoes, putting all belongings (includ-ing blankets or stuffed animals) on the moving security belt, waiting patiently in line, etc. If you do some planning in advance, you can arrive at your destination with a smile on your face instead of a head-ache.

301 West Homestead Blvd., Lynden

(360) 354-8200www.meadowgreenslynden.com

Choose Your Lifestyle:Independent ApartmentsAssisted Living Apartments24-hour Staffing with meals providedSurrounded by Homestead Golf Courseand Panoramic Mountain Views

Patrons of the Lynden Senor Center spent Friday afternoon with a full serving of Christmas cheer. The center hosted its annual Christmas dinner for over 200 people. — Lynden Tribune | TIM NEWCOMB

LIFELONG FITNESS

ACTIVE OLDER ADULTSSilverSneakers®, Water Exercise, Zumba Gold® and More!BELLINGHAM, FERNDALE & LYNDEN ACTIVITY CENTERS

WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA1256 N. State Street, Bellingham, WA 98225360 733 8630 www.whatcomymca.org

C11ENCORE Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record

Now Accepting New Patients! Crowns, composite, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, veneers.

WASHINGTONDENTURIST

ASSOCIATION

Member of

Financing Available! O.A.C.Have you been waiting to take care of your denture or dental needs?

BELLINGHAM2710 Meridian St.

www.nwdenture.com

Smiles: Before and After DenturesBefore

After

Before

After

Before

After

Unretouched patient photos courtesy of Northwest Dental Center.

Before

After

(360) 676-1499 BURLINGTON200 E. Gilkey Rd.(360) 757-4909

Dentures, Partials & Implant Extractions & Immediate Dentures

Eric Hansen, L.D. Jonathan Henry, D.M.D.

Call Today

For A FREE DentureConsultation

Visit nwdenture.comfor monthly specials.

SENIOR DISCOUNTSMost Insurance

WelcomeOFFERING FULL

FAMILY DENTAL CARE

monitoring service that will alert you via email to changes in your credit report. This way you will know quickly if someone else has tried to open a new credit account in your name. • When shopping online, only do business with websites that have security measures in place to protect you. Before you provide any personal or payment in-formation, look for a URL that begins with https (not http) and a lock emblem on the page, typically next to the address bar. • Before you shop the Web, con-sider changing your account passwords and keep a list of them in a secure place. Passwords and PIN numbers should be a random mix of letters, numbers and spe-cial characters, which makes it harder for identity thieves to guess. Preventing identity theft is important year round, and especially during the holi-days. By taking steps to protect yourself, you can help ensure your holidays remain bright — and secure. Holiday shoppers can become prime targets for identity thieves if care is not taken, both online and in stores. — Courtesy photo

Identity: Keep a physical list of passwords in a safe placeContinued from C9

ENCOREC1� Lynden Tribune | Wednesday, December 21, 2011 | Ferndale Record

Call for appt.738-8525

www.dreammaker-nw.com

Aging-In-PlaceCreating safe, accessible

homes for independent living.DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen is a full service remodel-ing company that specializes in providing products and services that allow homeowners a means to stay in their current homes for years to come. From install-ing a grab-bar to a large remodel our staff will provide you with a safe and independent living environment.

This shower replaces a bathtub. The pre-sloped shower pan fits into the floor and provides a level entrance. The textured grab bars provide excellent grip while the half height shower doors allow for more light and the ability for a care-giver to assist in bathing. JANUARY SALE20% off shower pan, seat,doors & grab-bars

The soothing powers of a bath are undisputed. From just a plain tub, or one with an air massage and hydro jet system you can sooth your aches and pains in a natural way. They are available in a variety of sizes and colors.

JANUARY SALE20% OFF

ALL WALK-IN TUBS

It’s Your Choice - It’s Your Life… Good Samaritan Society -Stafholt will help you get back to it sooner! Your Doctor says you aren’t sick enough to stay in the hospital but you aren’t strong enough to go home. What do you do? Tell your family and hospital discharge planner that you want to go to STAFHOLT for Short Term Rehabilitative care…It’s your choice. 24-hour care delivered by compassionate and dedicated health care professionals including a certified wound care nurse, physical therapist, and occupational therapist all fulltime on-staff, as well as speech and respiratory therapy services available on-call. A Medicare 5-Star rated facility, Good Samaritan Society - STAFHOLT is uniquely committed to your recovery, seven days a week. Stay Here – Get Stronger – Go Home

456 C Street Blaine, WA 98230 360-332-8733

Most Major Insurances Accepted, including Medicare www.good-sam.com

Contact our Admissions Coordinator; Laurie 360-332-1501 Ext 204

Encore

Documents

Transcript of Encore