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For National Heart Month, Balcos Insurance is featuring some simple ways to use your heart a little every day. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s fitting that we honor the heart.
There’s a number of ways to fix a broken heart - it all starts with the small stuff. Don’t think about it as exercise, think about it as action.

Standing is better than sitting, walking is better than standing. Increase physical activity to at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week, even if it’s 10 minutes at a time.

• Do housework instead of hiring someone else to do it.
• Stand up while talking on the telephone.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way.
• Walk the dog.
• Park farther away at the mall and walk the extra distance.
• When golfing, walk instead of using the cart.
• Dance with someone or by yourself!.
• Plan family outings and vacations that include physical activity (hiking, biking, swimming, etc.).
• Participate in a recreation league or start one of your own.
• Make a date with a friend and enjoy your favorite physical activities; do them regularly!
• Walk around the building for a break during the work day or during lunch.
• When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk.
• Walk while waiting for the plane at the airport.
• Instead of asking someone to bring you a drink, get up off the couch and get it yourself.
• At a picnic, play badminton instead of croquet.

Other key factors in reducing heart disease is smoking cessation and healthy food habits. A healthy diet reduces risks such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and excess body weight.

• Eat a balanced diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, cereal and grain products, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, beans, nuts, fish, poultry, and lean meats.
• Eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol.
• Eat with other people—you’ll eat less than if you eat alone.
• Know your snack “triggers” and plan ahead. Be ready with healthy snacks to fight the urge for high calorie or high saturated-fat foods.

A healthy lifestyle, even little bits at a time, make a huge impact over the course of your lifetime. Start today and get heart healthy!

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When you’re longing to get outside in the spring months, consider several simple steps to enhance safety for you and your family. After all, the numbers show where the danger is: Home accidents result in 10 million emergency room visits each year in the U.S., according to Home Safety Council estimates. Many injuries occur in garages and near doorways to a home.

Here are some suggestions for an effective spring safety sweep:

Check fluids: Look under sinks, in bathrooms, closets, garage and basement for liquids that include chemicals. Look for potentially hazardous liquids including: cleaning solvents and disinfectants; oil-based paints, primers and thinners; gasoline, kerosene, motor oil, anti-freeze, windshield washer, and other car products; insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers; and charcoal lighter fluid.

Safely discard any liquids that are unneeded or expired, based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Proper disposal is usually best accomplished with a community-based program. Typically, pouring hazardous materials down a sink, on the ground, or in a storm sewer—or placing them in the garbage—is not a safe option.

Cap, label and raise: Safely cap containers containing chemicals of any kind. If these materials need to be kept, make sure they are labeled correctly. Raise up (out of the reach of children and pets) any containers with hazardous materials.

Ventilate: Make sure petroleum-based products and other products with noxious fumes are not stored in a confined space such as a basement or closet. Nor should they be near a heat source. Springtime also is a good time to have chimneys professionally cleaned.

Check alarms: Housing codes typically require smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms in a residence. Consider adding these safety devices in garages and basements. Check the batteries in all smoke and CO alarms.

Clean up clutter: Many trip-and-fall or fall-from-above accidents happen because houses are cluttered near doors. Garages, basements, and attics are places where many homeowners put things out of the way—only to find them “by accident” come springtime. Clean up for safety’s sake.

Separate for safety: In the garage and basement, make an area for bikes, balls, and toys—away from potentially dangerous areas and items such as fuels, paints and power tools.

Prepare for an emergency: Make sure all entrances and exits to your home, including through the garage or basement, are clear. Place a first-aid kit and flashlight in the garage and basement. Mount a fire extinguisher in the garage, and train adults how to use it based on manufacturer’s directions.

Check appliances: Check appliance hoses for dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, and dryers. Danger signs: crimping, cracking or other damage on power wires, supply/discharge hoses, and vents. If you have a sump pump, test it—before spring downpours and melting snows do.

Spring is also a great time to review your insurance to make sure your policy is up to date and has you completely

Talk to Balcos Insurance, inc, your Trusted Choice® agent, for additional tips on how to protect your family and assets.

(877) 783 – 0335

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With high unemployment rates come high numbers of uninsured or underinsured drivers. This is making driving your car an even more financially risky venture. Do you have Uninsured (UM) and Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage on your auto insurance policy? If you’re not sure, call your agent to find out.

If you are in an accident with an Uninsured or Underinsured driver, you remain financially vulnerable. Typically, these drivers do not have coverage because they do not have assets, which makes it especially difficult and often inefficient to pursue collecting of damages for the accident. The best way to ensure you are protected  against such an event is to ensure you have the proper coverage on your auto insurance policy.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance covers medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages for you or your passengers in accidents caused by uninsured drivers or hit-and-run accidents. Underinsured Motorist Insurance covers essentially the same thing, but for accidents caused by drivers whose limits aren’t high enough to cover the damages they caused.

In some states, if you don’t already have Collision coverage for your car, you can get Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Insurance (UMPD), which covers damage to your car caused by uninsured motorists.

Talk to your agent and find out what you’re covered for. In an economic crunch, don’t let your car and your finances get stuck between an uninsured motorist and a hard place.

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The story of Terry Schiavo demonstrates how important it is to have a medical directive – signed documents that state your wishes in the event of catastrophic illness or an accident that prevent you from communicating your wishes to doctors or family members. Death and taxes may be the only sure things we can expect in this life, but there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your assets if life throws you an unexpected curve. In addition to medical directives, there are several other important documents to help you prepare for the inevitable, and for life’s less pleasant surprises. Here is a checklist:

1. Anyone – young or old – could be incapacitated by a serious accident or a devastating illness. A medical directive, which comprises two documents, is the best way to make sure your wishes are known and will be conveyed to caregivers and medical professionals. The Living Will component informs your doctors how you wish to be cared for in specific situations, and addresses end of life issues.

For example, in the event you are terminally ill with no hope of recovery, you might want your doctors to know that you do not want to be kept alive via feeding tubes or by other artificial means. The second document, a medical care proxy, names a surrogate who is authorized to make decisions on your behalf, if you become unable to make them yourself. This provision kicks in only when you are totally unable to communicate, and it is crucial in long-term care situations (like the Schiavo case). The proxy will help to avoid disputes among family members who might hold different opinions on your wishes regarding long-term care issues.

Have your legal advisor prepare these documents for you to review and sign. Some states require them to be notarized, and most require that a witness sign the document. In addition to filing a copy with your will and other key paperwork, it is a good idea to ask your doctor to keep a copy in your medical file.Unless you want the state to determine who gets your assets, make a will regardless of your marital status or your age. If you have one, review it periodically. If your family situation changes – divorce, deaths or births – review it to see if you want to change your beneficiaries or the division of your assets.

3. Life insurance should be top of the list for any new, young married couple. A couple’s term-life policy should be sufficient to cover the cost of their mortgage, and it is a good idea to increase coverage as kids come along. Insurance experts recommend that individuals purchase a policy that will yield not less than 5 times their annual income. Consider coverage for a stay-at-home spouse or partner. Consider what it would cost to hire a housekeeper/nanny to cover the responsibilities they handle.

4. Give consideration to supplementing your home and auto insurance policies with an umbrella policy to provide added liability coverage. We live in litigious times. Your kid’s buddy may hurt himself playing Frisbee in your pool, or a deliveryman might stumble on an uneven step on your porch and fall. The umbrella policy is designed to protect your assets in the event you are sued. The amount of coverage for added liability should be determined by your net worth.

Your financial advisors and insurance agent can help you determine the amount you need if this is appropriate for you. Make sure the coverage you purchase will cover you in situations where your existing policies don’t.

(877) 783 – 0335

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P & D Contractors Northwest LLC provides residential and commercial remodel and new construction services. Their core operating principles are: timely completion, cleanliness, environmentally conscious practices, and high quality finished product.

“Each job is treated as though it were our own property. To us each job is a functional piece of art,” replied owner Shaun Dunn when asked how they approach each project.

P & D’s main service is applying Westcoat Specialty Coatings products. They started applying these highly decorative, waterproof and protective systems after stumbling across the product line almost by accident in October of 2006. Since then, the company has done installations as small as decorative epoxy to a bathroom floor to multi-family projects with 27 waterproof decks.

We asked what’s next for P&D, Shaun has some interesting things in the works, noting that, “right now [he’s] doing a first-time test installation of a system that will provide a radiantly heated cement floor over existing wood subfloor.” He added that “this could be a great way to add value with a unique finish while reducing the cost to heat an interior space.”

The artistic & practical values of P & D make them our Spotlight on Success!

206-235-8486

http://www.pdcnw.com

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Sleep experts are now estimating that drowsy driving accounts for over 100,000 accidents each year, and causes 1550 deaths! The number of fatigue-related accidents may actually be much higher than this estimate because is it so difficult to detect.

Fatigue-related accidents usually occur with a driver who is alone, driving at night, during the mid-afternoon lull, or at another time they are usually asleep. As opposed to a drunk driver, the drowsy driver will not swerve, apply the brakes or take any action to avoid the accident. They can’t, because they are asleep!
In 2005 the National Sleep Foundation conducted a large poll about drowsy driving. 60% of drivers said they had driven while drowsy, and an amazing 37% admitted to falling asleep at the wheel in the last year. Personally, these are alarming statistics to remember whenever I get on the road.
You are at risk if you have been awake for greater than 16 hours, are chronically sleep deprived, or have had a sleepless night. If you have an untreated sleep disorder such as sleep apnea you are also at risk. Some groups are more at risk than others, including men aged 25 and younger, shift workers, commercial drivers, business travelers, those who drive at night, and anyone who has worked 60 hours in a week.

How can I prevent drowsy driving?

Planning ahead before driving will help you reduce your risk of drowsy driving. Get adequate sleep the night before. Try to travel long distances with a companion who can take turns driving and can help you stay alert with some good conversation. Plan enough time so you can take plenty of breaks – at least every 2 hours or 100 miles on long trips. Avoid alcohol and sedating medications while driving.

While you are driving if you are yawning, constantly blinking, or find your head nodding those are signs that you are drowsy. Mentally you may not remember driving the last few miles, you may feel irritable, or experience wandering, dream-like thoughts. You may drift in your lane or even hit the side rumble strip.

If you experience any of these symptoms Stop and Rest! Even a twenty minute nap can hold drowsiness off for a while. You can also use the alerting effects of caffeine. A good plan is to pull over, drink a caffeinated drink and take a 20 minute nap. Because it takes about 30 minutes to feel the effects of caffeine this plan will provide the benefits of both the nap and caffeine. (Be aware that caffeine is less effective in people who regularly drink a lot of it).

Although it is just the beginning of fall, by the end of the season the winter holidays will be in full swing. Let’s help make this a happy holiday season for everyone by getting enough sleep to be a safe driver, and making other arrangements when those holiday festivities cut our sleep short!
Courtesy of Dr. Catherine Darley, of the Institute of Naturopathic Sleep Medicine. www.naturalsleepmedicine.net

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Michelle Ferris nominated the Ballard Boys & Girls Club to support the community, and on Sept. 3rd, Balcos Insurance presented them with a $1,500 donation from Safeco Insurance. Donors Harry & Clare Wilson matched it, doubling the $1,500 donation.

Mark Hendricks, executive director of the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, said the donation will go toward computer, technology and building upgrades. “I love it,” Hendricks said. “Balcos Insurance has done a great job of purchasing the scoreboard for us in the past and has shown a lot of work on this great opportunity to make sure the club was included.”

Mark and Scott Balcos, president and vice president of Balcos Insurance, said they used to come to the Ballard club when they were younger and spent a lot of time there. Mark, a Ballard resident, said he has passed on the tradition by bringing his children to the club and involving them in its programs.

“I’m proud to have employees at Balcos Insurance that are not only professional, trustworthy and care about our clients, but also work to better our community,” Mark said about Ferris’ nomination of the Ballard Boys and Girls Club.

The Safeco Agent Giving Program provides grants to nonprofit organizations that primarily support youth and people with disabilities with an emphasis on education and after-school programs, health and safety, civic and cultural programs.

Read about it in the Ballard News Tribune

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Nimbus Restaurant is located on the 15th floor of the Bellingham Towers Building in downtown Bellingham, Washington. Along with striking views of Mount Baker and the San Juan Islands, Nimbus features creative upscale dining and seasonal cocktails in a casual environment.

Chef and owner, Josh Silverman, believes that great ingredients form the foundation of Nimbus’ cuisine. Nimbus supports local farmers and fishermen who supply the highest quality, fresh ingredients, as well as ingredients native to the Pacific Northwest. Their focus: a globally influenced, seasonal cuisine.

Nimbus offers rotating menus that include chef’s tasting menus with wine pairings.

Silverman’s goal is to provide an elevated dining experience with flavors, textures, aromas and colors that engage the senses fully.

www.nimbusrestaurant.com

(877) 783 – 0335

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Safeco’s contribution was presented to Community to Community Development by Michelle Ferris of Balcos Insurance. Ferris nominated Community to Community Development for a grant through Safeco’s Agent Giving Program.

“Community to Community Development’s mission is to empower people while respecting the land that sustains us,” said Ms. Ferris, “Safeco’s grant to Community to Community Development is a wonderful way to support our community.”

“I’m proud to have employees at Balcos Insurance that not only professional, trustworthy, and care about our clients, but also work to better our community,” said Mark Balcos about Ms. Ferris’ nomination of the organization.

Community to Community Development is a women-led, place based, grassroots organization working for a just society and healthy communities. The Food Justice Alliance unites family farmers, farm workers, retailers and consumers in creating localized, self-sustaining, and socially just food systems. Their goal is to protect and enrich the rural cultures and create sustainable livelihoods for all while working towards healthy communities at the local level in a global economy.

The Safeco Agent Giving Program provides grants to non-profit organizations that primarily support youth and people with disabilities with an emphasis on education and after-school programs, health and safety, civic and cultural programs.

Safeco’s $1500 donation will be going toward “Raíces Culturales – Aventuras de Verano,” Community to Community Development’s bilingual multi-cultural summer enrichment program. The six-week summer enrichment program will provide a structured and safe space for healthy play and allow the children to grow and feel whole within themselves by gaining pride in their cultural identity and exploring the interconnectedness of all peoples in Whatcom County.

For more information contact:
Emily Stebbins (360) 756-2330
A Project of Community to Community
203 W. Holly, Suite 317, Bellingham, WA  98225
www.foodjustice.org

(877) 783 – 0335

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In the heart of Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood lies a glittering butter cream jewel – Trophy Cupcakes. Opened in February of 2007 by husband and wife team Michael Williamson and Jennifer Shea, Trophy Cupcakes has soared to become one of the premier dessert destinations in Seattle. The business is the brainchild of Jennifer, a long time baker and party planner since her youth. Shea spent years perfecting her recipes and business plan, before meeting Michael. There, they combined their vision to make Trophy Cupcakes a reality.

The shop opened to immediate fan fare. Soon their small shop in the Wallingford Center was selling over 1,000 cupcakes a day, a number that didn’t go unnoticed. Shea was invited to appear on the Martha Stewart Show to bake one of her cupcake recipes. Since her appearance on Martha, Trophy Cupcakes has adorned the cover of Seattle Magazine and been feature as a “Best Dessert” in other local magazines.

In the shop, Trophy has over 30 different cupcake flavors that rotate daily and seasonally. Nine flavors are offered each day, including some daily specials. Some of the seasonal varieties include Margarita, Gingerbread, and Guinness Stout with Baileys Butter Cream. They don’t skimp on the ingredients either. The shop is dedicated to using only the finest European chocolate, free range eggs, pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, fresh fruit, and hormone-free dairy products. Their cupcakes are baked in small batches throughout the day to ensure the freshest, most delicious cupcakes.

Not only that, but Trophy also offers completely custom cupcakes and handles larger orders for corporate meetings, huge birthday bashes, and weddings. Their Wallingford location will soon include a party room available for gatherings of up to 50 people. They also just opened a location in Seattle’s University Village. Please visit their website for hours, locations, and a detailed flavor menu.
www.trophycupcakes.com

(877) 783 – 0335

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