February 2017 Gig Harbor Living Local

FEB 2017

LIVING LOCAL

Hot Home Trends #trending

leT’S GET –physical—

GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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Fresh Start

SERVING GIG HARBOR

Pharmacy . Full Service Repair . Home Delivery . Exceptional Patient Care

Olympic Pharmacy and Healthcare Services has grown into a leading provider of medical supplies and equipment to the Puget Sound area. Our mission is to provide our customers with the highest quality products, exceptional customer service and to be an active participant in our patients’ healthcare and well being.

We believe that offering exceptional patient care is a collaborative effort. Our trained and knowledgeable staff understand that every patient is unique and strives to promote a warm and caring environment where our patients feel comfortable.

4700 Pt. Fosdick Drive Northwest Gig Harbor, Washington 98335 (253) 858-9941 . Fax: (253) 851-9942

Because We Care.

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IT IS A SELLERS’ MARKET! CURIOUS WHAT YOUR HOME IS WORTH?

CALL 253-961-5596

CAROLYN WESTMORELAND BROKER/OWNER WESTMORELAND PROPERTIES

Exceptional Service, Exceptional Company.

Mark Wambold NMLS ID 248580 State Lic. MLO-248580 Direct 253.225.3352 | mwambold@fairwaymc.com www.wamboldhomeloans.com

253.961.5596 CAROLYN@WESTMORELANDPROPERTIES.NET

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This information is not intended to be an indication of loan qualification, loan approval or a commitment to lend.

Other limitations may apply. ©2014 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation FIMC NMLS ID#2289 (www. nmlsconsumeraccess.org) EQUAL HOUSING LENDER WA. License Number MLO-248580.

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PROTECTION FOR A

PLACE CALLED HOME. Home – it’s where life happens and dreams are brought to life. Let me help you protect what matters most with the customizable coverage you need and the support you deserve – all at an affordable rate. Let’s talk today.

Timothy Lopez Agency 7512 Stanich Lane Unit 2 Gig Harbor, WA 98335 (253) 858-7200 www.trlopez.com

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American Family Mutual Insurance Company, American Family Insurance Company, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2015 011760 – 2/16

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Come home to Kensington Gardens...for the time of your life!

Y O U R L I F E . Y O U R W A Y.

Personalized care should the need arise. 253.858.7588 3804 Olson Drive NW Gig Harbor Limited Time Move In Special starting at $1,900.00 a month. Call us for a tour.

WORLD CLASS WINES - TASTING ROOM - VINEYARD TOURS WWW.OLALLAWINES.COM 253-851-4949

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"I have found my new home in Gig Harbor.

Let me help you find yours."

Lydia Geline

Realtor Pierce County 253-242-0728 King County 206-419-0775 lgeline@windermere.com www.lydiageline.com

20 Years of Sales Experience in King County

THE GIFT O F WA R M T H It may be the warmest gift you give.

It’s called Project HELP. Project Help serves our members who need a hand to pay their winter heating bills. It’s a partnership between Peninsula Light Co. and Key Peninsula Community Services.

Your contributions go entirely to the fund—no administrative costs are taken. Contributions are tax deductible and Peninsula Light Co. matches every donation, dollar for dollar, so your gift goes twice as far.

We hope you will give generously to help warm the hearts—and homes— of those in need.

For more information, contact the Member Services Department at 253.857.5950 or toll-free at 888.809.8021.

T H AN K YOU F OR YOUR GI F T ! www.penlight.org

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Locally owned and operated Fine Jewelry, Repairs, Custom Jewelry, Appraisals Captivating Serveware and Decor by Vagabond house * Special financing up to 60 months same as cash 253.514.8478 | 4711 Point Fosdick Drive NW Gig Harbor, WA 98335 GigHarborLivingLocal.com 7

FEBRUARY 2017

VOLUME 4 NUMBER 2

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Design With Intention Soon spring will be upon us; a season that usually comes with increased energy and a desire to “spring clean”—decluttering closets, spare rooms and more. This article by Interior Designer Annie Nye will inspire you to do what you can to maximize the use of each and every room in your home. Do you have a guest room solely used for those few occasions when hosting others?

Turn it into an office with a Murphy bed. There are countless ways to maximize your space, and this article will help get you started.

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Feature Story Homelessness in America. It is an issue that is larger than many of us can comprehend. This article by Megan Olson provides an insider’s look at how people on the streets are struggling day by day for food and shelter. As you read about her encounter with some of Spokane, Washington’s homeless, you will be inspired to do what you can to help. Whether it is a monetary contribution to a shelter, providing clothing to those who only have what is on their backs or volunteering at a soup kitchen, their need is real and there are countless ways we can help to make a difference in the community.

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Travel & Leisure

We live in a beautiful part of the world with many picturesque destinations within a day’s drive. One of these is Whitefish, Montana, just a short drive from Kalispell, and winter is a perfect time to take advantage of all the resort town has to offer. This article by Jesse Wurm will give you an insight into things to explore during the winter months. Whether it is skiing, boarding or exploring Glacier National Park, there is much to see and do here.

Find out more about their Winter Carnival as well as places to stay and eat. Explore all that makes this town so great!

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Choosing the perfect home isn’t always easy.

But it doesn’t have to be hard either.

Let me help you make the move that is right for you.

Call me for an easy, no-hassle consultation today.

253.732.0534 sue@suerand.com www.suerand.com

“Why Gig Harbor is a great place to live, work and play”

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WWW.GIGHARBORLIVINGLOCAL.COM

Eat. Shop. Enjoy.

MARKETING

Washington Director | Julie Reed 253.273.8524 | julie@livinglocal360.com Washington Marketing Director | Jamie Taylor 253.906.4735 | jamie@livinglocal360.com

EDITORIAL

Managing Editor | Patty Hutchens patty@livinglocal360.com Editor | Jani Gonzalez jani@livinglocal360.com

DESIGN

photo

cred

y

ograph

n phot

ni Lyn it: Jah

STORE HOURS Monday – Saturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 8am-5pm DRivE THRU WinDOW OpEn Monday-Saturday at 7am

253.358.3241

www.theharborgeneralstore.com GigHarborLivingLocal.com

ACCOUNTING/OPERATIONS

Managing Partner | Kim Russo Executive Director | Steve Russo

Groceries, Deli, Coffee, Boxed Lunches, Grab & Go Meals & Gifts 7804 PIONEER WAY, GIG HARBOR

Creative Director | Whitney Lebsock Senior Designer | Jessica Herbig Designer | Maddie Russo

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Diane Fetzner f dfetznerphotography

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY Photo by Diane Fetzner f Diane Fetzner Photography

GIG HARBOR LIVING LOCAL MAGAZINE

is brought to you by www.livinglocal360.com.

If you would like to advertise with us please call 253.906.4735 or email info@livinglocal360.com. To submit articles, photos, nominations and events, email us at events@livinglocal360.com.

Living Local Magazine is published monthly and distributed freely throughout the Pacific Northwest and Inland Northwest; Gig Harbor, Edmonds, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Dover Bay, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Rathdrum and the Spokane Valley. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Living Local Magazine is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Living Local Magazine is produced and published by Living Local 360 and no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission of the publisher.

Green Cottage Pets See what a difference a good diet will do for your pet.

A Health Food Store for Dogs & Cats

Featuring Human Quality Foods, Treats and Supplements 3028 Harborview Drive Gig Harbor, Washington 253.851.8806

greencottagepets@earthlink.net www.greencottagepets.com

Luke is a 4 year old Lab mix, always playful enjoying his toy

Be Ready for the Next Storm

Even If You're Not Home

Why an automatic generator? You no longer have to worry about leaving the comforts of your home and venture out into the storm to turn on your generator.

Call us now for your No Cost In-Home Evaluation

www.LegacyPower.com GigHarborLivingLocal.com

Phone: 253-858-0214 15051 Kay Greseth Ave SE Olalla, WA 98359

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Dreaming of Summer?

It’s coming!

PHOTO BY DIANE FETZNER

Put your local photos up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the hashtag #GigHarborLiving to show us just exactly what you think is so special about Gig Harbor!

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PUBLISHER Valentine’s Day – It’s not just for sweethearts IT’S THE MONTH OF LOVE. Valentine’s Day is a time set aside to express our love for those close to us. But let’s take it one step further this year. Let’s not only express love to our spouse or significant other, let’s use it as a starting point to express appreciation and kindness to others all year long.

It is said that it can take up to 10 positive comments to offset one negative comment.

Whether it is a child picking on another child, a parent speaking in condescending words to their son or daughter, or co-workers criticizing one another, negativity can have a serious and possible lifelong impact on a person.

This Valentine’s Day you can choose to make it a point to give positive reinforcement to family, friends and co-workers and even extend that sentiment to others in the community. Maybe write a thank you note to the community’s first responders and drop it off at the local police and fire stations. Send a note to your child’s teacher thanking them for the care they give your son or daughter. A simple gesture can make a big difference in the lives of others.

“WHERE FAMILY IS ALWAYS FIRST.”

The season of Lent begins just two weeks after Valentine’s Day. Perhaps you can carry on this “season of love and gratitude” into the Lenten season; who knows, it may quickly become a habit that makes not only others feel good, but yourself as well.

Steve Russo Steve Russo Executive Director steve@livinglocal360.com

“ We are committed to providing professional, compassionate assistance in a safe and nurturing environment, ensuring a life of dignity and independence for seniors in our community.”

office

253.853.2033

web

www.familyfirstafh.com

address

4700 Pt. Fosdick Dr. #312 Gig Harbor, WA 98335

FEB 2017

L

LIVING LOCA

Hot Home Trends #trending

leT’S GET –ph ysica l—

ocal.com

GigHarborLivingL

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1

Fresh Start

ABOUT THE COVER THIS BREATHTAKING photo by Diane Fetzner captures the view from Upper Tipsoo Lake of the alpine glow off Mount Rainier.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are blessed with so many unique opportunities to see the sun as it reflects off our mountains and water. For more of Diane Fetzner’s amazing photography, visit her Facebook page at Diane Fetzner Photography.

$898,000

You’ll love the sandy beach & spectacular views of the Sound from your private Olalla waterfront retreat.

So close to Gig Harbor and the Southworth Ferry.

Start the next chapter of your life here.

because quality of life is earned.

BETTER GYM 253.225.4037

susan@bebettergym.com

(253) 514-1988 • sandyjones.realtor

WE MOVED DOWNTOWN! Come check us out at our NEW LOCATION: 3308 Uddenberg Lane Gig Harbor, WA www.bebettergym.com

Gary & Sandy Jones

f/betterperiod t/bebettergym

Your Gig Harbor Real Estate Team

/be_better_gym #bebettergym

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#GIGHARBORLIVING GET SOCIAL & LIVE LOCAL! Use the tag #GigHarborLiving when you post your photos on Instagram and Facebook. Your photos will show up on our Get Social page at WWW.GIGHARBORLIVINGLOCAL.COM

dif1998

al via



last tos from o h p e s ri sun y favorite orliving One of m bruary #gigharb a n e F tomonta #headed

and you’ll have the chance to see your photos in print right here!

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tate via onreales richwats ge in ter moora a w p e e us d iving Continuo rbor #gigharborl a H #Gig

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Coffee, s un start to th rise, water and mo e day. #g igharborl untain. Not a ba d iving #su nrisebea ch

S E E M O R E AT W W W. G I G H A R B O R L I V I N G L O C A L . C O M CONNECT WITH GIG HARBOR LIVING LOCAL MAGAZINE! facebook.com/gogigharbor

pinterest.com/LL360

CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE instagram.com/gigharborliving

twitter.com/gogigharbor

Contributors

Annie Nye • Nancy L. Hohenstein • Sarah Polyakov • Teresa Pesce • Natalie Dreger Megan Olson • Jesse Wurm

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Jamie Taylor Washington Marketing Director 253.906.4735 jamie@livinglocal360.com

Maritime Jewelers Exceptional Collection Estate & Consignment Fine Jewelry Diamonds & Rare Gems Custom Designs

Let your inner child out. Come play with us on the beach!

Jewelry Repair In-House Master Jeweler and Graduate Gemologist 253.514.0187

harborwildwatch.org

Voted in the Top 25 out of 100 of the Best Designer Jewelers in Western Washington!

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION Tuesday, Feb. 21st

253.853.4579 • 866.346.GEMS 3116 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 Open Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5pm www.maritimejewelers.com GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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Learn. Have Fun.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 29

20 Essentials

The latest tips and trends.

29 Life & Community Great local events and stories.

30 Business Spotlight van der Veen Jewelers

36 Gig Harbor in Focus

A recent study is neuroscience validates what canine enthusiasts have known all along.

44 Living Local

The power of positive thinking

36 50 Business Spotlight We Donate Together

52 Hometown Experts The best local businesses.

54 Health & Lifestyle

Tips and informational articles about living a healthy, active lifestyle.

60 Feature Story Helping the most vulnerable.

Would you like to receive this issue and future issues in your inbox?

Visit www.GigHarborLivingLocal.com and sign up for our FREE Green edition!

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70 Let’s Get Physical Inspired Design.

90 Travel & Leisure Get away to Whitefish, Montana.

98 Food & Drink

Discover Gig Harbor’s tastiest destinations.

106 Arts & Entertainment

Calendar of great local events, music and shows.

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WEST SOUND

KELLER WILLIAMS®

R E A LT Y

Live Where You Play!

haPPy valentine’s Month do you have your sights set on a

neW hoMe?

Would you

love

to knoW

hoW Much your hoMe is Worth?

it’s a great tiMe to sell With such loW inventory! call the

linda Petersen teaM today!

253.853.2555

Linda Petersen Seana Wohlfeil www.lindapetersenteam.com info@lindapetersenteam.com

253.549.6290 253.549.3386 f / LindapetersenTeam 11515 Burnham Drive nw Gig harbor, wa 98332

Scan for our

Smartphone App For inventory in the palm of your hand!

call us now for an immediate release of homes available in your desired location!

Chris Garcia

BRINGING FAMILIES HOME FASTER GigHarborLivingLocal.com

BRANCH MANAGER | NMLS#: 218204 direct: 360.649.3742 fax: 360.339.5368 chris.garcia@movement.com

Apply Online Now: www.MyGarciaTeam.com

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WA-MLO-218204 | Movement Mortgage, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS ID# 39179 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) | 877-314-1499. Movement Mortgage, LLC is licensed by WA # CL-39179.

“Movement Mortgage” is a registered trademark of the Movement Mortgage, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. 841 Seahawk Cir, Virginia Beach, VA 23452. CPID 2047 | 7/2016

Practical Living

ESSENTIALS

by Brett Marlo DeSantis

NAVIGATING OUR CITIES FINDING OUR WAY

This is part one of a two-part series.

NAME ONE ACTIVITY that is free, accessible and improves your quality of life.

If you thought of going outside and enjoying your surroundings, you are definitely on the right track. Taking a simple walk engages your senses, increases chances of social interactions, and allows you to experience your local environment.

Have you thought about how we find our way around our neighborhoods, streets, parks and cities? How often do we pass by places that we don’t even know exist?

Cities, counties, public and private entities all employ signage to help us find our way. Posting signage that identifies routes, landmarks and important assets in our built environment is often referred to as “wayfinding.”

Choosing these type of signs, defining their

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OWNED & OPERATED

BY THE DENNY FAMILY

RBOR.COM

We have multiple locations to serve you!

FIX AUTO PUYALLUP 11403 Valley Ave E Puyallup, WA 98372 Toll free: (866) 260-0425

FIX AUTO GIG HARBOR 2905 Jahn Ave NW #8 Gig Harbor, WA 98335 (253) 858-3522

FIX AUTO PORT ORCHARD 2585 Mitchell SE Port Orchard, WA 98633 (888) 218-6166

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The oldest artists’ co-op in Gig Harbor, Washington “Anna’s in the Meadow”

by Kathy Thurston

An architect’s vision of bringing the Sea to the Shore comes to life in this masterpiece with exceptional design features simulating a luxury yacht

Call to Schedule a Tour Today Jennie Wetter - Designated Broker/Owner 253.225.5602 - www.infinityrewa.com

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7809 Pioneer Way | Gig Harbor, WA 253.851.5293 f/TheEbbTideArtGallery www.ebbtidegalleryofgifts.com

FIND YOUR WAY

shape, color, location and content is critical as they define our initial experiences and interactions.

Let’s try a simple exercise—imagine yourself in a few different places.

Our first destination is to hike in a national park. As you amble along a well-kept dirt trail, you may see a sign to stay on the designated path. Next, you may see a trail map. Perhaps you may even see some educational signage informing you about local fauna.

These signs were thoughtfully chosen and carefully placed to protect both you and your surroundings at the same time; to allow us to understand the best routes and direct us to scenic points of interest; and to introduce and educate us about local history and life.

Next destination, your first trip to a foreign country. The place, people and its customs are new to you. Whether you choose to travel on foot, bike, rent a car or take public transportation, establishing a sense of direction is critical.

You have limited time on your trip and you want to make the most of it. While some people love to get lost, most prefer to understand the safest, fastest or best scenic route to make it to their desired

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destination. The journey is more enjoyable knowing your options! And it allows for getting lost on purpose, all the more fun.

Now come on back home and pretend you are a newcomer to your own town or city. Look at your surroundings with new eyes. Do you really know what signs line the streets in your city? If you followed the signs, where would you go? What would you experience and learn?

A A A H!

affordable adaptable alternative housing

Our journey has ended back as local citizens.

Consider what you already know about your surroundings, and reflect upon the placement and content. What signs may be placed out of context or location? What critical information might be missing?

We all take for granted the signs we pass everyday. Our minds accept them as old information and typically will not reprocess them without redirecting our focus.

We all take for granted the signs we pass everyday. Our minds accept them as old information and typically will not reprocess them without redirecting our focus.

Remember to look with a fresh perspective.

Read the signs, and evaluate how we navigate our cities. Can we radically improve our experiences?

Opening our eyes and minds, we have the ability to improve social interactions, personal and public safety, share and protect local resources, history and support our local economy.

You name it. tiny house, granny suite, backyard cottage, sidekick-in-law, attached or detached, basement apartment, compact design, small footprint housing, love shack, on-grid-off-grid

You can take action by engaging in this thought process and sharing your thoughts and ideas with others. Sharing your knowledge and sense of place is free and will radically improve everyone’s quality of life.

Part two in our March issue will focus on wayfinding in the City of Gig Harbor.

We build it.

BRETT MARLO DESIGN BUILD

253 376 7935 - brettmarlo.com GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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LICENSE # BRETTMD892QP

ESSENTIALS

COOL COLORS OF THE PAST ARE WARMING UP

VOTED one of the TOP mortgage companies to work with YEAR after YEAR!

For all your mortgage needs...

Call me today!

BY ANNIE NYE, INTERIOR DESIGNER

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER of time before the cool grays that have been popular over the last few years started to warm up. Now trending are blue hues of color, not only in paint, tiles, carpet and window coverings, but also in cabinetry. Colors like cadet, larkspur, indigo and limestone are making their way to the forefront. It’s almost like our trends are following the natural ebb and flow of Mother Nature. Once the stormy, gray, rain clouds have passed, the sunshine comes out and we see blue sky!

Specifically, the newest trends are finding inspiration from coastal regions. Along the coast, not only do we see tranquil shades of blues in water and sky, but there’s warmth in the sand and neutral beach palettes.

Paint color trends also are shifting from grays and, although professionals still feel that gray is important, they have seen significant efforts to warm it up. The cool tones of grays are being mixed with blues and even stronger hints of taupe.

PPG Paints has named their color of the year for 2017 as “Violet Verbena,” described to have shades of gray, violet and you guessed it - blue.

Nancy LeMessurier Loan Originator, NMLS# 1402740

I’VE MOVED! My new address: 5151 Borgen BLVD Suite 101C Gig Harbor, WA 98332 www.apmortgage.com nancy.lemessurier@apmortgage.com (C) 253-225-3885 (P) 253-649-4059 NMLS 1850 • Branch NMLS 1370632

GOING COASTAL

Sherwin Williams named their color of the year for 2017 “Poised Taupe,” which is a balance of warm and cool, using hints of gray with khaki, creating a cool taupe color.

Benjamin Moore’s color for 2017 is called “Shadow.” Their creative director, Ellen O’Neill, describes this color as “Royal amethyst fading into a soft lilac-gray of distant mountains…” Benjamin Moore’s 2017 color palette also boasts colors such as Sea Star, Sea Life, Guacamole, Cloud Cover and Iceberg.

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As you can see, (pun intended), color trends for 2017 are definitely following coastal inspiration and turning into blues and neutral nature-inspired tones. Along with those color inspirations, the sterile, flat shiny surfaces are transitioning to become more inviting and less institutional with the use of different finish options and textures.

The industry is dubbing this “New Modern” and it’s appealing to people because it has the same elegance, little to no maintenance, yet is more comfortable and liveable. The texture helps hide the “use” of these products because most of our homes are not the pristine uncluttered look we see with those sleek, modern pictures. We have kids, pets, dirty laundry, and tend to spend more time in our homes. We need something that looks good, holds up well, and doesn’t require a lot of time to keep it that way.

Finishes that have texture tend to mask scratches, dents or wear patterns, which all generations find appealing. For example, tile that looks like wood won’t gouge, scratch or have to be refinished like real wood. Textured laminate cabinets won’t wear like real wood, and countertops that are quartz, but look like natural stone, don’t have to be sealed.

All these are low-maintenance options that started out with the sleek modern feel, but are now warming up with textures and colors that are inspired more in line with Mother Nature.

I don’t know about you, but since winter has started to set in and the cloudy days are lingering, I’m inspired by the thought of the tranquil blues and beachy neutrals. Maybe looking into some of those travel destinations to go do some hands on “research” with these new color palettes and textures is just what I need to help with the winter blues.

FINANCIAL FOCUS

JOURNEY ON

TRY TO OVERCOME “ROADBLOCKS” TO A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT

Make Your Financial Future a Priority.

ARTICLE PROVIDED BY EDWARD JONES FOR USE

BY FINANCIAL ADVISOR ERIN ABRIGO OF GIG HARBOR

IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL want to take many journeys. Some are physical—perhaps you’ll finally visit the French Riviera or the Caribbean. Others involve personal growth— one day, you’ll finally become fluent in that foreign language you’ve been studying. But of all the destinations you can identify, few will be as important as retirement—specifically, a comfortable retirement. And that’s why it’s so important to consider the “roadblocks” you might encounter on your road to the retirement lifestyle you’ve envisioned.

•

Here are five of the most common obstacles: •

•

Insufficient investments – Very few of us have ever reported investing “too much” for our retirement. But a great many people regret that they saved and invested too little. Don’t make that mistake. Contribute as much as you can afford to your 401(k) or other employersponsored retirement plan, and increase your contributions whenever your salary goes up. Even if you do participate in your retirement plan at work, you may also still be eligible to fund an IRA, so take advantage of that opportunity, too.

And always look for other ways to cut expenses and direct this “found” money toward your retirement.

Underestimating your longevity – You can’t predict how long you’ll live, but you can make some reasonable guesses—and you might be surprised at your prospects. According to the Social Security Administration, men reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84.3, while women turning age 65 today can anticipate living, on average, until age 86.6. That’s a lot of years—and you’ll need to plan for them when you create long-term saving, investing and spending strategies.

•

•

Not establishing a suitable withdrawal rate – Once you are retired, you will likely need to start withdrawing money from your 401(k), IRA and other retirement accounts. It’s essential that you don’t withdraw too much each year—obviously, you don’t want to run the risk of outliving your resources. That’s why you need to establish an annual withdrawal rate that’s appropriate for your situation, incorporating variables such as your age, the value of your retirement accounts, your estimated lifestyle expenses and so on. Calculating such a withdrawal rate can be challenging, so you may want to consult with a professional financial advisor.

Taking Social Security at the wrong time – You can start taking Social Security as early as age 62, but your checks will be bigger if you wait until your full retirement age, which will probably be 66 or 67, or when your payments “max out” at 70. You might not be able to afford to wait until then, but by postponing the date you begin taking withdrawals, you could help yourself considerably.

Ignoring inflation – It’s been low in recent years, but inflation hasn’t disappeared, and it could rise at exactly the wrong time —when you’re retired.

That’s why you’ll want your portfolio to include some investments with the potential to outpace inflation, even during your retirement years.

By being aware of these roadblocks and taking steps to overcome them, you can help smooth your journey toward retirement— and once you get there, you may enjoy it more.

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Please call for a FREE review!

Individual Retirement Accounts 401k Plans/Rollovers Mutual Funds | Stocks | Bonds Insurance | Annuities

At Edward Jones, our business is helping people find solutions for their long-term financial goals.

Let’s work together to design and implement an investment strategy that suits your needs.

Erin R. Abrigo Financial Advisor 5727 Baker Way NW, Suite 205 Gig Harbor, WA 98332

253.858.0052 edwardjones.com/erinabrigo f / edwardjoneserinabrigo l / in/erinabrigo

ESSENTIALS

THRIVING IN 2017 SIMPLE STEPS TO SUCCESS

BY DEBORAH OLIVE

PAUSE TO REVIEW

JANUARY, THE MONTH WE COLLECTIVELY hit the reset button and develop our goals for the New Year, has come and gone. Are you one of the people who expects to thrive in 2017? If so, what changes are you making? Are you enthusiastic about your progress? Are you disappointed? Are you somewhere in between?

reveals both the mistakes and how the player excels.

In the world of business, leaders who excel regularly review their “game films” and make adjustments.

What if you paused to review your January in the same way? You’ll uncover feedback to consistently improve in the areas that matter most to you.

If you answered, “enthusiastic,” keep up the good work, but don’t stop there. If you stalled, find yourself procrastinating or feel stuck, there’s something you can do to get back on track so you thrive in 2017. Whether you’re enthusiastic about January or find yourself in some version of stalled, your next step is the same.

Imagine what all of those small “wins” will feel like.

The winning formula for your review is the 3 Cs: courage, compassion and curiosity. With courage, you tell yourself the truth about what really happened. Compassion means you’re gentle in the areas you need to correct. Curiosity opens your mind to new approaches. When you practice the 3 Cs and use quality questions, your discoveries will astonish

In the world of professional athletes, players review game films to study their performance. They study their opponents as well, but the highperformance athlete is keenly interested in their own performance. A picture paints a thousand words, and the film makes no distinction as it

THE THREE Cs

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In the world of professional athletes, players review game films to study their performance.

Unleash Your Potential

you. As you do your review, ask the following: • What worked well?

• What do I need to do more of?

• What do I need to do less of?

• What do I need to stop?

• What do I need to start?

Let’s see how this works. Jason is a family man and business owner who comes into the office before his employees. He wants to improve his health and fitness this year, so he joined a gym.

He decided to get up an hour earlier three days a week for 6am workouts. Four weeks later, he’s been to the gym seven times instead of the 13 he planned. Jason is discouraged and plans to drop his gym membership if February isn’t significantly better.

Jason used these five questions to review January. “What worked well?” He wasn’t happy about the six workouts he missed, but the question focused his attention on the seven workouts he completed and the benefits he already noticed.

What do I need to do more of? “Get up early”— which he dreaded. “What do I need to do less of?” “Dread getting up early.” He laughed. His curiosity kicked in. Getting out the door by 5:40am was the biggest block to his workouts, but his schedule during the rest of the week was locked in. Or was it? He considered an afternoon workout, which required leaving the office early. He had concerns, but his staff had come a long way. He’d talk with them. “What to stop?” Making things so hard.

Jason was optimistic about the changes he planned. Better yet, he discovered the power of the review. In less than 30 minutes, he’d gone from being discouraged to having a high level of confidence that he’d make adjustments until he dialed in his workouts. Jason just took a giant step toward thriving in 2017.

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LIFE & COMMUNITY HEART AND SOUL

LOVE THE WINE YOU’RE WITH

PHOTO BY JOSH SHERWIN

Winter Sip & Stroll offers the perfect Valentine date. By Patty Hutchens.

FIRST INTRODCUED AS PART OF the annual Gig Harbor Wine & Food Festival in July of 2015, the Sip and Stroll event has quickly become a favorite of many in our community. This year the second “Winter” Sip & Stroll will take place on Saturday, February 11 from 1 to 5pm.

Canyon Cellars, The Woodhouse Wine Estates serving Dussek Cellars, Salida Wine, and a couple more to be announced soon,” said Sherwin, who adds that featured breweries include 7 Seas Brewing Co. and Wet Coast Brewing Company, and spirits from Heritage Distilling Company, Inc. “Each stroll stop will feature a different vendor.”

The tasting event of Northwest wines, brews, spirits and tasty small bites guides attendees along Gig Harbor’s waterfront, stopping at various businesses that serve as “stroll stops.”

Proceeds from the event benefit the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance and the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor.

According to Josh Sherwin, special projects coordinator for the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance, there are 500 tickets available for the event and if the past is any indication, it is sure to be a sellout. And with so many businesses involved, it promises to be a true community event.

“The Alliance’s mission is to bring together community and waterfront district stakeholders in order to encourage economic vitality and to preserve the historic character and quality of the area,” shared Sherwin.

The Alliance will provide complimentary shuttle transportation throughout the waterfront to make it easy to visit all of the Stroll Stops.

Tickets are $30 in advance at bit.ly/wintersipandstroll, or $35 at the door on the day of the event.For more information, contact the Alliance office at 253.514.0071 or visit Gig Harbor Wine & Food Festival on Facebook.

“Featured wineries include Abiqua Wind Vineyard, Carl’s Pond Winery, Gingko Forest Winery, Gruet Winery, Henry Earl Estate Wines, Leony’s Cellars, Naches Heights Vineyard, Olalla Vineyard & Winery, Sunlit

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Yourself

Express

In Unique Fashion

Local jeweler creates distinctive pieces

BY PATTY HUTCHENS

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BRINGING SMILES TO customers’ faces has been a tradition for van der Veen Jewelers for many years. Whether the occasion is an anniversary, engagement or “just because,” those who purchase their jewelry from Jann van der Veen will receive a one-of-a-kind piece that is handmade and of superior quality.

“Being a small, independent company allows us to focus on our customers,” said Jann. “We build relationships and take the time to make sure our customers get exactly what they want, creating a custom piece if needed. We don’t carry what you find everywhere else. We know it is important to have unique pieces that you won’t see on your best friend. That, combined with our in-house repair shop, gives us a unique edge.”

Jann van der Veen opened the first location of van der Veen Jewelers in Federal Way on January 1, 2001. The second location was opened In Gig Harbor on September 1, 2014.

“Before coming to Washington, I owned and operated a store for many years in Southern California,” said Jann.

In addition to creating unique pieces, van der Veen Jewelers carries a superior grade of diamond jewelry. They offer designer engagement and bridal rings, pendants, earrings, fashion jewelry, gentlemen’s jewelry and exclusively carry Citizen brand watches that are eco-driven, meaning no battery is ever required.

“We offer custom creations, along with a full service jewelry repair shop on-site,” said Jann.

“We do everything from new watch batteries and band sizing to repairing prongs and resizing rings. We also offer G.I.A. Certified Appraisals.”

Their stones are all natural and are hand chosen; they do not carry anything that is synthetic or lab created. “Our philosophy is to offer the best quality for your budget,” said van der Veen. “Not all diamonds are the same, our merchandise is hand selected and we carry only premium-cut diamonds.”

All of their repairs are done in-house and all purchases come with a lifetime warranty. And when sizing rings, they do not stretch the gold; they instead add gold to the ring.

As a family owned business for over 50 years, Jann van der Veen is a GIA Graduate Certified Gemologist and Master Jewelry, starting in the industry as an apprentice performing diamond setting and working his way up to management and ownership.

For Jann van der Veen, there have been many factors that have contributed to his success, but he said the biggest influence on him has been the man who mentored him during the late 1960s—Ray Schow.

“I was fortunate enough to meet Ray Schow as part of a small Dutch community in Portland.

Ray took me under his wing, and I was able to learn directly from Ray how to set diamonds in pave` style,” said Jann. “Ray was a perfectionist and demanded the highest quality of work. He later opened the Ray Schow School of Diamond and Jewelry Design along with publishing ‘The Art of Diamond Setting.’”

Jann was born and raised in Amsterdam at the end of World War II; his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Portland, when he was a teenager. He spent time in Southern California where he met his wife and where they raised three children. They moved to Gig Harbor 24 years ago to be closer to family; a move they are thrilled they made.

“Being in the Gig Harbor community has been a dream achieved. We love providing our experience and expertise in our hometown,” said van der Veen. “Nothing is more satisfying than sharing your trade and passion with people you know and your neighbors.”

van der Veen Jewelers 4711 Point Fosdick Dr NW Gig Harbor, WA 98335 253.514.8478 vanderveenjewelers.com

We build relationships and take the time to make sure our customers get exactly what they want, creating a custom piece if needed.

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Good News Making a Difference for 35 Years Altrusa helps to feed hungry kids

By Nancy L. Hohenstein

“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” - Eleanor Roosevelt ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WAS A STRONG WOMAN, and she was one of the pioneers of Altrusa International. While her husband, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was governor of New York, she began one of the very early Altrusa clubs in Albany and worked tirelessly to do the things that many thought she, being a woman, could not do. That was 1927. FIfty-four years later, Altrusa of Gig Harbor started its work to support its community.

2017 is the national organization’s centennial, and Gig Harbor’s Altrusa has invited clubs from all over the Puget Sound to celebrate with a birthday party patterned after the “Pink Teas” of the 1917 era when women were finding their wings and their voting rights. That is just one of this year’s upcoming events.

When the city began talking about a community center around 2001 and the Boys & Girls Club began talking about building a new club here, it was Altrusa that suggested that they collaborate to meet the needs of the entire community from childhood through seniors. The newly-formed Altrusa of Gig Harbor Foundation even put their money where their suggestion was and pledged to raise $100,000 to equip a commerciallevel kitchen in the new building with the condition that it be available for use by the entire community.

The new building opened in 2007, and its kitchen has been used for events by the entire community, including the club to feed the boys and girls who attend after-school and summer programs there.

The funds that Altrusa raised to meet their $100,000 pledge were generated by 20 years of staging the annual Holiday Tour of Homes.

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The funds that Altrusa raised to meet their $100,000 pledge were generated by 20 years of staging the annual Holiday Tour of Homes.

They came from donations by sponsors, tickets sales and the sharing of 100 beautifully decorated Gig Harbor homes. In October of 2015, Altrusa made its final payment to the Boys & Girls Club, celebrated by burning the “mortgage.” They then began to look for their next challenge.

“What we discovered astounded us,” said current president Jan Hohman. “And it fit right into our work on behalf of our children.

We learned that there was no summer lunch program to ensure that those children who qualified for lunch programs during the school year didn’t go hungry. What better way to put that kitchen to use?”

The members recognized that it was a big challenge, and one they probably could not meet by themselves. They resolved to begin the process and to let the efforts raise awareness.

In February of 2016, Altrusa sponsored their first Empty Bowls event to raise funding and provide a limited summer lunch program through the Boys & Girls Club.

While one in four students in the Peninsula School District qualifies for food support, nearly one in two summer program attendees at the Boys & Girls Club qualifies. That’s twice the community’s average, said Hohman. At the end of last summer, close to 900 children had

a lunch and two snacks daily during the 10week summer program. Additional funds were dedicated to the Fish Food Bank for summer lunches.

foundation, and Pat Jones who joined just a year later. They are just two of the women with a history of doing the things some believed they could not do. Both remain committed.

This year’s Empty Bowls event will be held on Saturday, February 18, from 11am to 2pm at the Boys & Girls Club. Admission is gained by purchasing a bowl, the starting price of which is $10, and that allows the purchaser to choose from a variety of soups donated by local chefs and restaurants. Because last year’s event sold out of bowls and soup in less than two hours, they have doubled their goals for bowls, soups and, in the end, funds to feed our kids this summer.

Mary Ann Paeth is a retired teacher. Margaret Ensley works for Peninsula Light. Pat Schmidt owns a printing business. Shirley Hansen has published her 10th book and writes an online newsletter on water quality, conservation and demands. Jan Rinker is an attorney. Rose Jaeger manages a warehouse. Dyann Nauman is a retired systems manager. Former Governor Dixie Lee Ray and former Mayor Gretchen Wilbert have been active in the group. And there are more. What they all have in common is a love of the Gig Harbor community and their friendships with each other.

None of it would happen without the generous participation of local ceramic artists, led by potter Barb Bourscheidt, a bevy of local chefs and restaurants, and sponsors like Peninsula Light, Umpqua Bank and DPI print.

In the meantime, Altrusa members have been actively pursuing other sources of funding, planning and managing a summer lunch program that serves a broader group. Talking to other organizations, institutions and individuals, Altrusa is working to develop a coalition that will find ways to meet the need.

So who are Altrusa’s women?

While they work hard on their projects and celebrate their successes, they also have fun.

They get together to attend a concert, have a picnic or a party, and, of course, to plan for the next challenge. In addition to feeding kids’ tummies, they also work with the Peninsula Youth Orchestra to feed creativity.

Altrusa invites you to join them at their meetings which take place on the second Tuesday of the month at Harbor Place at 6pm.

To reserve your dinner, call 253.514.8908.

Virginia Hardy, who in 1981 was a founding member of the local club and helped start its

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Good News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2017 11:00AM-2:00PM GIG HARBOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

It’s not the good life, it’s the best life!

Welcome home to Harbor Place!

• PURCHASE YOUR HAND-CRAFTED BOWL. PRICES START AT $10.

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From morning to night, you’ve got friends to meet up with, activities to share and a beautiful environment around you.

From fine dining, to sunny courtyard lunches, our chef prepares meals meant to be savored.

100% of All Proceeds From This Event will Feed Hungry Kids in the Peninsula School District Next Summer.

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It’s Pup py Love!

In Focus

A recent study in neuroscience validates what canine enthusiasts have known all along

By Sarah Polyakov

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“Dogs are minor angels, and I don’t mean that facetiously. They love unconditionally, forgive immediately, are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happy.” – Jonathan Carroll WHEN YOU LOOK INTO the eyes of a golden retriever, what do you see? In those large and innocent brown eyes, I see hopefulness, playfulness, and of course love. But perhaps the particular eyes you see reflecting love back to you are different. They may belong to a pug, a spaniel or perhaps a terrier named Corky. No matter what breed the dog, whether bounding retriever or playful poodle, I know one thing for sure—every dog expresses, or is capable of expressing, unconditional love.

Still, there are many who are simply not in agreement with me. Where I see love, most scientists would say that I see a figment of my imagination. Quick to accuse folks like me of anthropomorphizing animals, most scientists posit that it is only we humans who are capable of love. Just as quickly, they dismiss the caninehuman bond as an adaptive strategy solely for the acquisition of food.

Happily, the results of a recent study provide us with some hopeful clues as to what dogs might be thinking. Gregory Berns, MD, PhD, a distinguished professor of neuroeconomics at Emory University, has been able to shed light on what goes on within the canine mind. Despite his multiple degrees and scientific training, his

lifelong dream had always been to answer one simple question—do dogs love us?

With grants from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Berns received the funding to explore this question. Remarkably, he has been able to see for the first time what goes on in the mind of dogs by using fMRI technology. He and his staff have trained a group of canines to willingly sit inside an fMRI so that changes in the canine brain and thought patterns may be seen and measured.

Since dogs “see” the world through scent, changes in each canine’s cognition and emotions have been measured via the use of scent. Each dog has been presented with objects that contain the scent of their owners and also the scent of strangers. When presented with the scent of their owners, the reward center in the canine’s brain was triggered. It was found without a doubt that the dogs in the study loved their owner’s scent above any other scent. More information on these findings can be discovered in Berns’ book How Dogs Love Us. It has also been demonstrated by other experiments that dogs are able to understand the difference between happy, distressed and

sad humans. Dogs are able to comprehend an owner’s speech and pitch and respond to them in a way that seems to demonstrate empathy.

Love is a two-way street Biologists, psychologists and many physicians have known for years that humans benefit from interaction with their pets. Forward-thinking hospitals utilize dogs on cardiac wards because their presence is linked to higher survival rates in patients. This is great news for humans, but how do dogs feel about us?

Fortunately, it appears that the benefits in terms of feelings of well-being go both ways. A study in Sweden recently demonstrated that dogs seem to benefit emotionally as much as we humans from our relationship with them. During the study, the hormonal levels of dogs and human volunteers were measured.

When volunteers petted and interacted with the dogs in the study, both the dogs and the humans released copious amounts of oxytocin. This hormone that invokes feelings of wellbeing and bonding is also released when human loved ones hug or participate in other loving activities.

A study in Sweden recently demonstrated that dogs seem to benefit emotionally as much as we humans from our relationship with them.

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How far will a dog’s love go?

If you scan the news, you can occasionally find a good news story about a dog saving the life of an owner. For example, in 2008 a dog named Maya was awarded the Dog of the Year award for saving her owner from a male attacker who sought to take the life of Maya’s owner.

However, there are even more dramatic stories than these. Cecil Williams, a 61-year-old blind man from New York City, got to experience firsthand how far a dog’s love will go. When he found himself in a life and death situation with only seconds to spare, his dog Orlando was put to the ultimate test.

Williams, who is a diabetic, was on his way to a dental appointment when he lost consciousness and fell onto the subway tracks in Harlem. His dog Orlando followed him onto the tracks without question. Onlookers alerted the conductor to stop the subway as they yelled to an unconscious Cecil.

But as the train bore over Cecil and Orlando, everyone turned away, shrieking in horror. To everyone’s surprise and after the train passed over the pair, witnesses found that Orlando was next to his master in the middle of the track. Somehow, they were positioned so that the subway had passed over both of them and master and dog remained completely unharmed.

This type of canine loyalty is far from being a recent occurrence. Let’s take for example the legendary loyalty of a Japanese dog named Hachiko. Each day, Hachiko would accompany his master to the Shibuya train station and wait for his master to come back from his work at the University of Tokyo.

This daily act of loyalty occurred for years, even after his master died. Up until the day Hachiko died, he could be found waiting for his master in the same spot. Today a statue stands in his place to commemorate this act of loyalty that transcends both time and culture.

Martin Luther once noted, “The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” This Valentine’s Day, let’s endeavor to create a love that is more inclusive and recognize that the affection that all of us seek may already be lying near a warm fire and right beside our feet.

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MICHAEL CAMPIGOTTO: Peninsula High School SENIOR MICHAEL CAMPIGOTTO has shown Peninsula High School athletic fans that he has what it takes to succeed. Both a football player and a member of the wrestling team, Michael said his biggest challenge to overcome has been his 5’8” stature. But he said he has learned that size and speed are not necessarily the most important attributes.

“If you have a great work ethic and you commit yourself to giving your all every rep, practice, match and game, you will be the best athlete out there you can be,” said Michael, who said he always holds himself to a higher standard. “It was always my goal to be the most technical player on the field, and I work hard in the off season to make myself faster and stronger.”

Being raised in a military family has meant moving a few times during his life. Michael started playing football at age 6 and began to wrestle at age 7 when the family was

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stationed in Texas. They moved here in 2008 from Illinois.

“I was a starting cornerback junior and senior year for football,” said Michael. But it is wrestling that is his favorite sport. He has been on the varsity team for four years, the last two of which he has served as captain, and has placed at State every year so far taking eighth, sixth and seventh respectively.

Over the course of his high school years, Michael has been enrolled in 12 AP classes and maintained an impressive 3.85 GPA. In the fall, Michael plans to attend either the University of Washington or New York University where he will pursue a degree in business management and a master’s in finance.

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EMILY SHIELDS: Gig Harbor High School GIG HARBOR SENIOR, Emily Shields, has been on the varsity basketball and crosscountry teams since her freshman year, but basketball is by far her favorite sport.

“When I was in first grade, I watched my two brothers play basketball on a team, and I asked my mom if I could play,” shared Emily.

“At the time there weren’t any girls’ teams in the area, so my mom got me onto my brother’s team with all boys.”

She was instantly hooked. “From playing pickup games with my two older brothers to scrimmaging during practice, nothing beats being in the gym,” said Emily.

Emily is successful both on and off the court.

She maintains a 3.75 GPA while enrolled in AP classes including biology, calculus, psychology, and composition and language.

“I watch every Zag basketball game with my dad, and I’ve always dreamed of the day I’d be able to be a member of the Kennel Club myself,” said Emily, who adds that she will not play basketball at the collegiate level but has already inquired about being a student manager for the Gonzaga women’s team.

While sports have taught her many things, Emily said the main lesson she has learned is perseverance.

“In all sports you go through rough patches, but being successful is all about how you deal with those slumps,” said Emily. “You can get down on yourself or play the blame game pretty easily, but it takes a certain type of athlete to turn their weaknesses into strengths.”

Following in the footsteps of her dad, aunts, uncles and older brother, Emily plans to attend Gonzaga University in the fall.

Photo Credit

“If you have a great work ethic and you commit yourself to giving your all every rep, practice, match and game, you will be the best athlete out there you can be.” Courtesy photos of Michael Campigotto.

“You can get down on yourself or play the blame game pretty easily, but it takes a certain type of athlete to turn their weaknesses into strengths.” Courtesy photos of Emily Shields.

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The Power of Positive Thinking

By Teresa Pesce POSITIVE THINKING WORKS! Our thoughts manifest as actions, actions become habits and habits create success. Positive thoughts generate positive energy, which is effective and attractive.

That’s the good news.

However, negative thinking also works. Negative thoughts also manifest as actions, these actions become habits and the habits create failure. Negative thoughts create negative energy that is also effective, but for failure, not accomplishment, and it repels rather than attracts.

Your power to do something if you think you can do it is equaled by your power to not do something if you think you can’t do it. So when we talk about the power of positive thinking, we are really only talking about thinking.

So let’s start with how people think.

The brain contains the neo-cortex, where you find facts, figures, evidence and language. The brain also contains the limbic system’s amygdala that controls trust, loyalty and decision-making. The amygdala is all about feelings and emotions and does not have any connection with language; it is where your “gut feelings” reside, the ones you can’t explain with words. You make your decisions from your emotion/experience-based amygdala, and then justify and explain those decisions from the fact-based neo-cortex.

The neo-cortex can think positively all it wants, but if the amygdala is stored with negative experiences and emotions on a given

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subject, the positive thoughts will be overruled. Here’s how that works: You are about to give a speech. Why are you a trembling, sweaty-palmed mess as you grip the podium? What’s terrifying you? You’re prepared. You’ve thought positively, you’ve practiced affirmations. The problem is…

Positive thinking must correspond with emotional experiences and beliefs For positive thinking to work, it has to have a foundation within the amygdala. Positive words have little power to override a negative experience.

If you were once reduced to stammers when asked to read aloud in third grade, you will have to counterbalance that negative experience before positive thinking will help you make a successful speech. You do this by creating positive experiences around speech making. Join friends for coffee and have each person share a childhood story. Experiencing your audience’s enjoyment of your little “speech” will be a positive experience to validate your positive thinking.

You may also find you have opposing or undermining beliefs based on the amygdala’s portfolio of experiences. A positive thought such as, “The job interview will be a great success,” may be undermined by a belief that authority figures don’t like you; a belief based on an experience of teacher or parental disappointment or disapproval.

Positive thinking ignores the odds One young man wrote a song, then talked himself out of trying to get it published by considering the odds against him; there were thousands of would-be songwriters and very little room at the top. His sister wrote a song, called a producer until she got an appointment, and three songs were published three months later—with an advance payment.

Positive thinking focuses on the result, not the long process to get there A man tried to talk his friend into waiting in line to get a free lunch at a sporting event. The man saw the free lunch, waited in line and got it. His friend saw the long line and didn’t wait in it. His friend went without lunch.

Positive thinking gives the outcome the benefit of the doubt Negative thinking jumps the gun: “This probably won’t work.” Positive thinking isn’t so much a presumption of success as it is openness to success.

Positive thinking frees you to succeed As you think, “This will work” or “This will be fun” or “This is

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a good idea,” you are freeing up your abilities to be creative and think limitlessly. You are releasing your imagination and stoking the fires of enthusiasm. Do you think you stand to succeed more when you are being creative and energetic, or shut down and stalled? I agree with you.

Positive thinking redefines and transforms failure into redirection If not that, then let’s try this! Ideas and options are unlimited when you keep moving and follow them up. Failure accepted as final is a dead end.

Positive thinking is solutional A problem or issue or challenge isn’t a reason to stop. It isn’t an “I told you so.” When positive thinking hears, “You can’t do that,” it asks, “Why not?” and responds to each objection with a solution. It not only doesn’t stop, its creativity kicks into high gear.

Positive thinking is transformative It changes glitches into solutions, and it redesigns and turns “failures” into alternatives and fresh starts with new ideas.

There is everything to gain with positive thinking, and everything to lose with negative thinking. Positive thinking isn’t mindless Pollyanna-ism. It isn’t attempting the impossible. Positive thinking maximizes and optimizes every idea, every opportunity, every day. Its confidence and joy are attractive.

Its focus causes it to bypass many long, dark detours into fear and doubt. We find what we seek, and positive thinking seeks and expects good, success and happiness.

What have you got to lose? Everything. What do you have to gain? Everything. So, what do you think?

By Dr. Ming Chee, Money Alchemist Being raised in a family where money was often a measure of love was sometimes a very difficult thing. When given as a measure of love, money can makes one have an aversion to it. In my family, saying “I love you” was not a commonly uttered phrase.

It is now though. It took several years of showing my parents that actually saying “I love you” was worth a lot of money. Now, when money is shared between family members, the love is felt.

As I am doing money alchemy sessions with clients, it often comes up that the relationship with money is related to actually how we feel about ourselves. How did self-love and worthiness become such an integral part of manifesting money? As we know money is energy, we flow love and appreciation towards money when it comes in. Money enjoys that and flows to us more. But can we hold onto that money? Many of us, myself included at one time, thought we needed to work hard for money. We need to earn our money, we need to struggle and work for every penny that comes in. But the money doesn’t seem to want to stick around, so we work harder.

With several clients, I may not even talk about money with you. I know you want to manifest money otherwise you wouldn’t hire me as a money coach. But we may just do self-love practices for a month. We may just write out “I am worthy” statements. But as we do these practices, an internal shift occurs. We start to realize, wow, there is some lack there about loving ourselves. As we connect with our internal selves, we start loving ourselves.

Money starts sticking around.

A correlation is there. We may even get an “a-ha” moment. What? If I love myself more, I know that I am worthy of receiving money and love?

Play with it. You might see the connection as well. Just don’t even think about your need or want for money Dr. Ming Chee is the co-author of an e-book, “Being Present to Serve.”

Learn more at www.lunchwithcinderella.com/present-to-serve.html.

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Being Present to Serve Join the Group that has been manifesting thousands of dollars week after week and gain access too: A supportive Facebook group with tips, suggestions, and specific questions answered Activities and "money games" to support your money manifesting shift Gifts, support, giveaways Monthly group calls with Ming and Amina Consultations with Dr. Ming Chee, Money Alchemist and Amina Makhdoom, the Sunshine Manifester Join the group for only $9 a month Visit: themoneyalchemist.com/product/12-month-program

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Ming and Amina discovered how effortlessly they bring money into their lives by doing the exact same thing… being present and looking for ways to serve.

They’ve put everything they know and have learned about bringing money flow into your life into an ebook. This process is the real deal that feels good, is sustainable, and is a mindset shift, a new way of being, that allows money to find you!

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We Donate Together Make Every Move

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By PATTY HUTCHENS

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“We make a living by what we get…but we make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill WHAT IF BUYING or selling your home also provided you an opportunity to fund a cause that is close to your heart? Thanks to Realtor Kathryn Dunham, there is a way to accomplish just that.

We Donate Together was founded by Kathryn and her husband George Dunham in April of 2016 on the belief that people like to give, naturally and intrinsically, and it is that belief that drives their passion to bring givers together. From each sale of a home, Kathryn and members of her Passion Team contribute up to 20 percent of the commission to a cause of the client’s choice through their organization We Donate Together.

“The giving of volunteered time, materials and money is growing each year. However, the need to protect the vulnerable is growing at a faster rate. Our passion for giving has no limits on our goals to impact the needs of the vulnerable,” said Kathryn.

George and Kathryn state that they have been blessed by rewarding careers that have allowed them to connect with people on both a business and personal level, crossing all cultures and areas in the region.

“This experience has provided the foundation to use our skills to generate additional funds for the needs of the vulnerable and fulfill our passion for giving and doing our part,” said Kathryn.

While there are many Realtors who are involved in the community and support various organizations, Kathryn Dunham and her team are unique in that their focus is building a passionate team of Realtors who are focused on not only providing a quality service transaction, but also has in mind the “closing gift” that is made in the client’s honor.

Kathryn has 38 years in the real estate industry and has been fortunate to have participated in all facets of the industry in addition to being a Realtor. “This has been a dream of mine for years, and it’s been such a blessing to see it finally come to fruition by having such a wonderful husband and partner that believes in this as much as I do. It’s a way to build a real estate business that has as its primary goal giving back to the community in any way that we can via like-minded clients and industry partners,” said Kathryn.

create zip lock bags of essential items for the homeless. Its first such event is scheduled for February 28 and the goal is to assemble 150 plus bags every month for the rest of the year… and beyond.

For more information on We Donate Together, go to www.wedonatetoghether.com or contact local Passion Team member, Gretchen Allen.

Gretchen L. Allen ABR, CRS, ASP & ALHS Realtor/Broker ~ Residential Specialist Re/Max On The Lake 253.427.5553 253.620.0028 www.homesbygretchen.com

Joining Kathryn on her Passion Team is Gig Harbor Realtor Gretchen Allen who is in the same RE/MAX office as Kathryn.

“Gretchen is as passionate as we are about our business model, she is the force behind our involvement in Gig Harbor,” said Kathryn.

“We are honored and thrilled to have her as our partner and learn about the Gig Harbor community and how we can help.”

Since forming in April of 2016, We Donate Together has made gifts totaling $15,600 to organizations of their clients’ choice. “We have big goals for 2017 and beyond. We believe we can only be successful by surrounding ourselves with excellence and like-minded people,” said Kathryn. “Each Realtor that is on our team will be the secret to the success of this business.”

We Donate Together is currently organizing “Love Bag” events where volunteers gather to

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What if buying or selling your home also provided you an opportunity to fund a cause that is close to your heart?

Thanks to Realtor Kathryn Dunham, there is a way to accomplish just that.

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Live Long and Squat

By Susan Moore, Better Gym, Gig Harbor

WE ALL KNOW THAT SITTING is terrible for our bodies for reasons too numerous to list in this article. It damages our metabolic, nervous, mental, muscular and structural systems. Unfortunately, no matter how vigilant we are, there are times when sitting is inevitable. We sit while we drive, while we eat and relax, and for most people, we sit while we work.

As a society, we need a paradigm shift that pretty much eliminates sitting in order to truly live the lives for which our bodies were designed. But I don’t see that happening any time soon, if ever, so what I am going to focus on is minimizing the damage that sitting causes.

First thing we need to do is obvious. Sit less. As much as it seems like a no-brainer, it takes constant effort to sit less. You can get a pedometer, movement tracker or app to set movement goals to help motivate you to keep your rear out of a chair. Don’t slouch when you do sit. Sitting in front of the computer or TV and slouching just compounds all of the damage done from sitting. And here’s a biggie—squat. While sitting is an unnatural position for your back, putting compressive forces on the lumbar spine, squatting is the opposite. When done properly, it extends our lumbar (lower) spine without compression while stabilizing with the legs, core, hips and glutes.

H E A LT H Y T I P

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Don’t start off squatting with as much weight as possible. And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t do it on a smith machine.

Use your body and eventually free weights.

Free weights meaning barbells, dumbbells or kettlebells. Make sure you can articulate the movement by keeping your knees towards the second and third toe, keeping your chest up and your spine in a neutral position. If you haven’t squatted in years, then seek a qualified professional or do some research on how to progress your squat from wherever you may be starting. Strength is a skill and must be honed in order to keep and develop it.

Many people believe that squatting is bad for their knees. Not so. Squatting poorly is bad for your knees. If it hurts when you squat, stop. You are most likely doing it wrong. If you don’t have anyone to help you learn to develop your squat, take a video of yourself squatting and watch the video after each set. If it hurts your eyes to watch it, the movement you are doing is most likely not a correct squat. Start by putting a chair or bench directly behind you and sitting down and then stand back up. Sit down without rocking back onto the seat and stand straight up without rocking forward. Be mindful of your spine not rounding at any part of the

movement. I bet that doesn’t hurt your knees.

Not only does proper squatting help reverse the damage from sitting and strengthen the body to combat the future damage from sitting, it can also help prolong your life. In a Brazilian study, over 2,000 men and women between the ages of 51 to 80 were studied for an average of 6.3 years, and those who needed to use assistance from both hands and knees to get up and down were about seven times more likely to die within six years than those who could quickly stand up and get down without support. So what does that mean for you? Can you get up and down off the floor quickly and without assistance from your arms or rolling onto your knees?

If so, good, but make sure you are able to do it long term and continue to move and move often. If not, you have some work to do. Start moving ASAP. Our bodies were designed to stay active. You only have your one body for the rest of your life and in some ways, you can dictate how long it will be.

Susan Moore owns Better Gym in Gig Harbor.

She is a Master Trainer for TRX, a professional education provider for StrongFirst and several other fitness organizations. Susan also teaches fitness education to all branches of the U.S. military.

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Joleen Stenbak 253.358.5481

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CHRONIC HEAD, FACE, JAW AND NECK PAIN IS YOUR BITE PART OF THE PROBLEM?

BY RHONDA R. SAVAGE, DDS

THE LAST STRAW FOR SUSAN was when she was forced to stay in bed all day with an ice pack on her head, unable to go to work or play with her daughter. She took over-the-counter medications and a prescription medication when the pain got really bad. She had tried everything—massage, chiropractic treatment and physical therapy. These treatments were somewhat effective, but the headaches continued. Dealing with the headaches was a constant struggle; she was starting to get depressed.

According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 45 million Americans endure recurring headaches; from this group, 23 million suffer from migraines. Research suggests that up to 80 percent of headaches result from dental force related problems.

A staggering number of people don’t know why they’re in pain. Many are unaware that dental force related issues, either related to their mouth or as a result of trauma (like a fall, sports injury or whiplash) can be the root of their pain.

Using a computerized bite analysis, dentists can evaluate your range of motion and bite imbalances. Specialized tools and techniques, such as ultrasound, micro-current technology, cold-laser therapy and manual muscle massage, reduce pain and inflammation. The treatment promotes healing of the muscles and nerves; then the bite is balanced after inflammation is reduced.

Drug-free, needle-free and painless, the treatment is aimed at the underlying causes of chronic headaches—the pain and discomfort caused by improper muscle forces in the mouth, head and neck area.

Some people who live with constant headaches for years become resigned to the condition. They give up, thinking, “I guess this is how it’s going to be.” With a 92 to 93 percent success rate, some dentists can help cure the pain of migraine and other headaches, tinnitus, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) and vertigo.

Many headaches are triggered by stress, or are hormone-induced, or alcohol-induced.

Nighttime headaches can also be triggered by a bite imbalance, as well as lack of oxygen at nighttime. Sleep issues and headaches are often tied together for many patients.

Chris suffered from headaches since he was involved in a serious car accident. Broadsided by another vehicle, he had major medical care, but still had headaches. After beginning treatment, he was amazed that he was headache free. Chris said, “It’s such a simple, easy, painless process.”

Dull, nagging, constant headaches. Do you wake up with these daily? Headache and migraine pain has to do with the muscles of the head, neck and jaw, and the way that teeth come together. Forces imbalanced by the way the teeth come together send a biofeedback loop to the brain that causes pain through the brain stem.

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Working in conjunction with medical professionals, dentists can make a difference.

Sarah said, “I didn’t realize how many headaches I was having until I stopped having headaches!”

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Affecting Your Daily Life?

The leading cause of headaches is not what you think, and it’s not all in your head.

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The life-changing, therapeutic treatments have been effective in patients suffering from painful symptoms of bite imbalance, chronic headaches, migraines and TMJ/TMD.

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UNDERSTANDING VERTIGO TREATMENT DEPENDS UPON THE CAUSE

BY RYANNE LEMON, PTA, CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER, CORNERSTONE PHYSICAL THERAPY

Gig Harbor Chiropractic & Massage www.GigHarborWellness.com

Dr. Greg Messer Dr. Keri Messer

253.857.6500

11430 51st Ave NW Ste 101A Gig Harbor, WA 98332

f gigharborchiropractic&massage Visit our website to take advantage of our New Patient Special!

ACCORDING TO A medical website, the definition of vertigo is “the feeling that your environment is moving or spinning.” This is slightly different than the feeling of dizziness, which is the sensation that you are moving or spinning. Vertigo can have many different causes including brain disturbances caused by trauma or illness, but the most common origin is inflammation or other disturbances to the inner ear.

To understand vertigo, it is first important to understand the mechanism of the inner ear and how it affects balance. The ear is a very complex and important organ which houses the ossicles and ear drum within the middle ear for hearing, and complicated set of structures including the cochlea, semicircular canals and vestibular nerve within the inner ear which aid in balance and the ability to realize one’s position in space.

The mode in which the components of the inner ear affect balance is very complicated, but basically relates to fluid, called perilymph, housed within the semicircular canals.

The semicircular canals are oriented in all three planes of motion, or a 3-dimensional arrangement, and the perilymph can therefore flow freely through the canals in relation to any position the body might be in.

The position of the fluid in the canals sends a signal to the brain to let the brain know if a person is upside down, upright, sideways or even just subtly veered in one direction or another.

Inflammation within these canals can disrupt this mechanism that causes the signal to the brain to be faulty. Another disruption may be caused by what are known as “ear rocks,” or small crystals of calcium carbonate which are found in another section of the inner ear and may get knocked into the canals from trauma or aging. These rocks disrupt the flow of the perilymph, and may cause a person the sensation of the room spinning whenever they change positions.

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ASSESS

H E A LT H Y T I P

So how is vertigo generally treated? The treatment is related to the cause of the problem. With blood pressure and disease complication, medication is often the best solution. Acupuncture, diet and other natural remedies have also been found to be effective for some. In the case of ear rock, trained doctors and physical therapists can perform what is called the Epley maneuver, which is a sequence of head positioning that can release the ear rocks from the canals where they can be reabsorbed in the body. This treatment can be very effective in a short amount of time for some patients.

Vertigo can range from an annoyance to a very scary condition and can be a complication of many illnesses and conditions. Luckily, there are many treatments available to help get the symptoms under control.

MOVEMENT PATTERNS

ASSESS

DON’T WAIT FOR PAIN TO OCCUR TO MAKE A CHANGE

Spa Packages Make Great Valentine’s Day Gifts For Yourself or Someone You Love

BY DAVID ANGELL, DC, CONVERGENT THERAPIES

DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR, many of us are setting our new year’s resolutions.

A few of us will successfully complete our resolutions, but most of us will not. The problem is that we are setting a goal for the sake of the new year, when instead, we should be setting a goal because we see a need for positive change.

This year, my resolution is to identify a pattern and improve it. Our brains work by developing and practicing patterns.

Sometimes we call them routines, exercises, postures or habits, but they are all patterns.

The movement patterns we have now began to develop before we were ever born.

Depending on the way our mothers lived while we were in the womb, we were exposed to different foods, hormones and motions at different times of the day. We learned when and what we should expect from eating and sleeping. When we learn to sit up for the first time, our pattern for how we will sit up for the rest of our lives begins. When we crawl, we are developing patterns that will affect us in almost every motion for the rest of our lives, including walking, climbing, bending, lifting, writing, etc.

These patterns work for us to accomplish very important tasks. As they become practiced, our brain learns to execute these patterns thoughtlessly. We love thoughtless action because it expends the lowest amount of energy for our brain, even if the pattern itself may be harmful or simply inefficient.

All of our Valentine’s Day Packages include: patterns. In order to have a strong body that will keep up with our increasing lifespans, it is important to make sure we are moving in a way which is easy and stable.

The way to begin making permanent changes is to realize that we have a problem. If we wait for pain to occur before identifying poor patterns, then it is more difficult, but still possible, to improve. Sometimes we can identify the problem pattern and other times we need someone else to help us see it. Once we know what the problem is, we can fix the pattern by practicing the proper movements until they become thoughtless. It takes time and it can be frustrating because we are learning new things about ourselves, but that also makes it incredibly rewarding.

At many points in our lives we are confronted with our negative patterns. For instance, if as a child you were like I was and you had a very short crawling phase, it is likely you will miss out on some important core stabilization patterns. Luckily, we are starting to get a better idea of what all these patterns are and the places where we might fall into poor

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Feature Story THE REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS HELPING THE MOST VULNERABLE

BY MEGAN OLSON I COULD FEEL THE SEETHING INTENSITY of my tears as they streamed from my face. I stood in the vacant doorway and watched my husband of ten years drive away from our home for the last time. There are no words to give color to the grief. A flood of emotion overcame me as my trembling fingers clutched the papers. His vocalized intention to keep the house and business struck me as the fatal blow between boxers in the knockout round. I staggered to keep my composure as the baby lay sleeping in her room. My work had been reduced to half so that I could be home with her. Even with a college degree, I was only bringing home a meager one thousand dollars a month. Where would we go? How would I care for her? A thousand dollars a month is not enough to survive and raise a child in today’s economy. Now, I stood at the threshold of homelessness rather than the doorway of the home that I had helped to build with my own two hands. On any given night, there are over 500,000 homeless people in the United States; of those, almost half are families.

I first met Paula and James as I parked my car and stepped out onto the curb. The number of people living on the streets of Spokane is almost incomprehensible. I’ve travelled much of the country, and I can’t unravel the mystery of how a small city cultivates such a monumental crisis.

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I first met Paula and James as I parked my car and stepped out onto the curb. The number of people living on the streets of Spokane is almost incomprehensible.

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Some sidewalks are so full of people camping that there is no room to walk. The incessant requests for money and the colossal camps of people living under bridges have grown to be overwhelming.

I caught a quick glimpse of the woman sitting on the curb near my car. I made a rapid and methodical attempt to avoid eye contact so that I didn’t have to engage in conversation.

If I seemed busy, maybe she wouldn’t bother me. As I was fumbling for change to feed the meter, I heard her voice behind me. I didn’t want to turn to around to face her, but my lovely 7-year-old girl looked at me with those wide blue eyes that questioned how her mother would respond.

Sometimes I give money, but I always feel uneasy of the propensity of fueling addictions.

Sadly, the dissolution of my marriage was a combination of my ex-husband’s addictions and my willingness to enable him. I took a quick glance at the woman as I apprehensively handed her a few measly dollars. She looked intently back at me with tears in her eyes and said, “God bless you.”

Now, I was just standing there staring at her, unable to move. Seeing her on the curb brought me back to that moment of being in my doorway. I recognized that I was not too removed from her situation. Five years ago, this could have been me. It only takes one catastrophic life event to catapult us from

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comfort into chaos. No person is immune.

Within a few moments, the woman’s friends joined us; one of whom was confined to a wheelchair and the other was visibly limping.

On that 90-degree day, the intensity of the heat had written itself upon their faces. I didn’t perceive them to be a threat because their humanness and vulnerability was evident. I wanted to know their story. I wanted to know how any person could arrive here.

The following Sunday, I was without my daughter. James and Paula had agreed to meet me for an interview over breakfast. I couldn’t help but smile as Paula arrived in bright red Mickey Mouse footed pajamas. Her smile

portrayed the persona of an innocent child too pleased to care about the world’s view of her appearance. She joyfully announced that someone had given her the shoes off of their feet the night before. Her heart was genuinely bursting over the gesture.

Sadly, it would be less than two minutes before the diner would ask us to leave. My heart sank, as the reasoning was painfully obvious. My company politely responded to the restaurant’s request as though this had been a rehearsed response. I held my tongue to avoid being snide, but I was indignant on the inside. I imagined that this was only a taste of life on the streets—where people react to you as though you are “not quite human.” I tried to set aside the feelings of degradation and redirected

my focus to the level of humility that I just witnessed from two homeless people that were asked to leave based upon their appearance.

After we settle in for our breakfast at a quaint outdoor café, James reluctantly mentions that he and Paula haven’t eaten in two days. I offer them whatever they want from the menu but ultimately, it’s the coffee that piques their interest. No matter where we are in life, humans really aren’t that different. I too was equally delighted by the prospect of good coffee.

As I begin talking with them, I realized that they are like any other relationship out there; they bicker, they laugh and they finishing each other’s sentences. It warmed my heart as they spoke of knowing each other for 25 years. They

asserted that fate had recently reunited them on a city bus. Despite the harshness of their circumstance, it was obvious that love still had made its way through the darkness.

When asked about life on the streets, no words could readily be given. There was obvious pain attached to the response. They offered the confessions of being on and off the streets since their teenage years. In 25 years, they have seen it all. I watched as Paula began nervously rubbing her fingers together as she spoke of her life’s circumstances. She gave the account of having her ribs broken and battery acid dumped on her chest. James asserted that one person must stay awake at all times as the other person sleeps.

“You must form a family to survive out here.

You will either be harassed, sexually violated,

It was difficult to not be moved when they gave the account of a passerby that removed her own shoes to give to Paula because she didn’t have any. The selfless stranger walked away completely barefoot.

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robbed or murdered. There is no safe place on the streets.” With a surprised and naïve tone, I said, “nowhere?” James responded with a pause and a disheartened tone barely above a whisper “nowhere.”

In the interview, both James and Paula indicated a great loss as young children. Each of them grew up feeling like “throw-aways” of society. Paula confessed that sometimes she sits and stares at the park as she watches children play. She says, “I hope that I don’t scare anyone, it’s just that I never got to be a kid.” She and James were both placed into foster care before the age of 5. When I asked what they dreamed of being when they were kids, I was certain that all little children must dream of growing up to become something. Paula tells me that she never had that dream. She never had a chance to think about it. She was placed in multiple foster homes and faced violent physical and

sexual abuse. Both were living on the streets full time before the age of 17.

How could you not lose heart living in these conditions and seeing the worst of what humanity has to offer? Paula asserts with optimistic assurance that there are others that have it far worse. In my head, I couldn’t imagine it being any worse. The real hope was delivered when they expressed that they also get to experience the best of humanity. It was difficult to not be moved when they gave the account of a passerby that removed her own shoes to give to Paula because she didn’t have any. The selfless stranger walked away completely barefoot.

James tells me that it’s ultimately faith that keeps him going and the hope that tomorrow will be better. To my surprise, he offers that he became an ordained pastor 16 years ago. I

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hadn’t asked about his limp, but he began to recount the details of his horrific car accident that occurred five years prior. The accident had left his body broken and mangled; rods and pins now hold it together. As he spoke, he glorified God for saving his life. Before me was a man not complaining about a broken body or the harshness of life on the streets, but a man with a grateful heart that he was still alive.

Each day, they find themselves caught in the web of a vicious cycle. Both express an eagerness to work. James admits that the accident has rendered him unable to work many of the labor positions for which he is qualified. Paula, however, seems positive of the prospect of working. Each day, their objective is to make enough money begging on the streets to be able to stay at a cheap motel. “We do all that we can to not have to sleep on the streets, even if that means going without food.”

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Both of them struggle with mental and physical disabilities. At first, they were nervous to offer the confession of battling mental illness, but they assured me that they are medicated. Paula’s greatest struggle seems to be her epilepsy. “It’s the unknowing of when and where it will occur that is the most difficult.” James also has to face diabetes in addition to his other physical ailments. He expressed a sense of guilt about being homeless and having specific dietary needs to avoid insulin shock.

Washington State, despite being recognized as a “social service state,” seems to have little to offer for those most in need in Spokane. Paula and James both respond in unison that “Spokane is one of the worst places in the country to be homeless.” Paula playfully nudges James and says, “Then why the heck did we come back here?” They raise the point that many of the services available require transportation. How do you reach those places when you do not have or cannot afford the ability to get there?

As a follow up to their claim, I did make an effort to contact one of the most recognized organizations that works with the Spokane homeless population. I wanted to know what services are available and how accessible they are. The organization did not return my call.

Poverty and homelessness are very complicated matters on so many levels. Whether it’s a mindset or any other possibility, it’s important to not lose sight of our humanity. I want to encourage you to not be afraid. You don’t have to give money. Be the human that gives the shoes and is willing to walk away barefoot.

When asked about what it is that they want out of life, James said it best. “Not every person is looking for a handout but a hand up. We want the same things that everyone else wants—love, comfort…” and with a slight pause and softness in the tonalities of his voice, he said, “every person wants a home.” People are people.

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By Colin Anderson An active lifestyle and healthy outlook on eating and exercise can help us feel and look better. The following pages outline a few key things that we can do moving into the new year to help jump start an active approach to life in 2017.

Cheers to health!

Designing Your Workout Routine

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know your strength To Avoid Injury You were All Conference track in high school, and 20 years later you’ve decided to pick up right where you left off—bad idea. When starting an exercise plan, it’s extremely important to know your abilities and limitations. As we age, our flexibility naturally weakens and our muscle recovery time takes longer. Be sure to stretch before and after workouts to avoid slipping a disk in your back or spraining and straining knees, ankles and shoulders. Most gyms have on-site trainers that will take you through a series of tests then set up a program tailored to your goals.

How To: Build your stamina If it’s been six months since you ran six miles; don’t hop on the treadmill and plan on doing the full six. When building up endurance and stamina, the initial goal is time, not distance. You might be able to run an eightminute mile, but if you’re maxed out after eight minutes you won’t do yourself as much good in the long-term as if you slowed to a 10-minute pace and ran for 30 minutes. It’s good to vary the machines you use as well. Stairs, treadmill, elliptical and bike will challenge your muscles and endurance better than the same motion each day.

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f o u n d atTraining ion Often overlooked by gym goers, getting your core in shape is arguably the most important exercise. Having a strong core gives you the balance and strength to move on to more complex lifts. If the core is weak, your body will compensate on heavy lifts which can lead to injury. Finding 10 to 15 minutes each workout for various forms of sit ups and balancing techniques will lead you to a much stronger foundation and better workouts. It also works the areas where just about all of us are trying to shed a few pounds and inches.

Dedicated Space Inside Your Home

Almost as popular of a New Year’s resolution as getting in shape, decluttering the home is high on many priority lists. By getting rid of excess, you may just open up an entire room in which you can place workout equipment. A small bedroom or office can easily fit yoga mats, resistance bands, free weights, an exercise ball, stationary bike, bench or other larger piece of equipment. You can get a full-body workout with these few items alone. Having a dedicated workout space in your home saves you a trip to the gym as well as gym fees and allows you to work out any time of day.

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ALTERNAtIVE EXERCISES

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Legendary athlete Bo Jackson claims he never went to the gym despite his incredible physique.

Bo would do pull-ups on tree branches and lift heavy objects around the house. While you don’t have to take it to that extreme, there are all kinds of alternatives to the gym. Ride your bike to work a day or two each week, go cross country skiing or snowshoeing with the kids, shovel the driveway, and in the summer swim a few laps in the lake in between tanning sessions. Parking in the very back of the grocery or department store parking lot forces you to walk further and burn more calories.

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C i r cworkouts uit For those looking to ramp up their results, circuit training provides an intense full body workout combining both strength and endurance. Participants go through a series of movements with little to no rest in between. Music is typically blaring, and your instructor will be motivating you to push your body way past your comfort zone. These workouts are intense, but combined with proper diet they help shed pounds and gain lean muscle faster than just about any other program out there. There are various in-home programs available, and gyms typically offer hour-long classes as well. You’ll be hurting, but most see the effort pay big dividends.

Buddy workouts Accountability is one of the biggest challenges to achieving goals. If you only have to report to yourself, it’s easy to skip a workout or cheat on your diet. Get your spouse, teenager or a friend involved with your goal and hold each other accountable. Even if your goals are different, you will be surprised at how much wanting your exercise buddy to succeed will make you want to succeed. This is also great social time outside of work. Buddies can push each other past their original goals, and bringing in additional people or creating a team challenge will also help keep you working towards your goal.

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Design With Intention: Make the most of your space

By Annie Nye, Interior Designer at Selkirk Glass and Cabinets, a division of Ponderay Design Center in Sandpoint, Idaho GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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H

ow many of us would need to clear off our “stuff ” to make room to use the dining table as the actual dining table? At our house, we have homework, books and clutter that end up on on the table, our collect-all space, throughout the week. Wouldn’t it be nice to just have a room that has a dining table, storage for the napkins, tablecloths and your “good” dishes and silverware? Maybe display some of the china you inherited or those decorative vases, pitchers or crystal that you have tucked away in the cabinets. A room like this may seem unnecessary when designing floor plans or if you are house shopping, it may not be on your must-have list, but it should be.

Rooms that are intentional in their purpose, such as dining rooms, offices, kids’ playrooms, game rooms or dens, are good ideas when designing or shopping for a house. You don’t have to add square footage to the floor plan of your home to make this work, and by having these intentional spaces, it will actually free up space in other areas of your home.

Some of us have these spaces but aren’t using them to their full potential.

Rooms that are dedicated to a single purpose are not common in the average home. When we think of these rooms, we typically see them in magazines where they are set up with a perfectly made bed, a spare dresser, fresh flowers, etc. That’s just not real life! Don’t waste that square footage where you invested your hard-earned dollars. Let’s figure out how to make these spaces more useful.

Most rooms only need to have a dual purpose once or twice a year. Guest rooms are a prime example. We only have guests a few times a year, so why have a room dedicated solely to their time spent at our house when we can be using that room for our own purposes the other 49 weeks out of the year? Why not convert that room into an office with a Murphy bed so it has a dual purpose?

Think of the layout of your home (or your dream home). Aside from the required bedrooms and bathrooms needed, a kitchen and a living area, what other areas would you like to have? I see an office, an exercise room, a mudroom and a family game room in my dream home.

An exercise room or dedicated gym space would be square footage well planned for someone that actually uses it. Often times, the treadmill or exercise equipment gets put behind

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Think of the layout of your home (or your dream home). Aside from the required bedrooms and bathrooms needed, a kitchen and a living area, what other areas would you like to have? I see an office, an exercise room, a mudroom and a family game room in my dream home.

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the sofa or in the garage, but that’s not an appealing place to use it. Treadmills are loud, therefore if someone else wants to watch television, the volume is either so loud so that everyone can hear the movie or the treadmill can only be used when no one else is trying to watch. Or because of space constraints, the exercise machine is put in the garage where it can be loud and take up space that we’re not willing to give up in the house. But in the garage, it’s also less apt to get used because it’s hard to get to; it’s cold and just not as appealing. Plus, it’s taking up valuable area that can be used as storage space.

Having a dedicated gym space in our home would be ideal for me. I had our treadmill (before I sold it) on our covered front porch. I have my kettle bells in the office, the yoga mat and videos are in the living room where the DVD player is, and my TRX bands are anchored in our master closet. If we had an exercise room, I could have all that in one space, and it actually would free up other space in our house and make it look less cluttered!

Rooms that are dedicated to a single purpose are not common in the average home. When we think of these rooms, we typically see them in magazines where they are set up with a perfectly made bed, a spare dresser, fresh flowers, etc.

The family game room area would house an insanely comfortable sectional for movie watching and a large coffee table that would allow board games, card games and lots of area for drawing space.

In that same room would be the ping pong table, dart board and storage for our game paraphernalia. I could also have this room double as the “sleepover” room for the kids to crash when they have friends over or when additional family wants to stay when we have the other guests those few times throughout the year.

One room we do have that’s used for its intended purpose is an office. It could have been used as a den as well, but with my husband being self-employed and the cub master of a local pack, we needed a space dedicated to his stuff. There’s a desk, storage bookshelves, etc. We also put a small sofa in there and a second television so it could do double-time as a den, but we still consider it the office. It’s truly a blessing that he can keep all his piles in one location instead of having them scattered throughout the house. I just wish there was enough space in there for a second desk that I could use when I pay bills and need a space for my laptop. (Instead my stuff is tucked into an armoire in our master bedroom).

It’s a waste not to use these spaces if you have them already. You paid extra for that square footage, so you may as well make the most of them.

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Love the Home You’re In...

EXCEPTIONAL REMODELS IN THE PUGET SOUND AREA SINCE 1990

Call to Schedule Your Design Consultation 253.851.2701 | www.choicecarpentry.com

Proudly offering local, handmade, and fair trade

GIFTS, FINE ART & HOME DECOR

Sea Hags 8805 N. Harborview, Ste. 201, Gig Harbor, WA 253.851.0459

ALINDA MORRIS INTERIOR DESIGN LLC 3016 Harborview Drive Gig Harbor WA AlindaMorrisInteriorDesign.com @alindamorris

Holiday Hours M-Th 9-5 Fri.-Sat. 9-6 Sun. 10-3

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Hot Home Trends

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#trending what inspires you?

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PURCHASE A $75 GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR ONLY

$65!

& pamper her this Valentine’s Day!

Facials, Peels, Reiki, Sugar Hair Removal and More!

Boutique is 60% OFF Clearance Items!

253.851.3550 7620 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor www.spagigharbor.com f/SharonsSpaBoutique

DAVID POOL ARCHITECTURE | pllc A Leading NW Architecture Firm Specializing in Contemporary Residential Homes

4102 Harborview Drive Gig Harbor, WA | 253.858.3008 f The Beach Basket Gift Shops / Beach Basket Christmas Shop We proudly sell Rill Soup Mixes made in Thorp,Washington.

For Your FREE Guide

Gifts Gig Harbor T-Shirts Sweatshirts Souvenirs Women’s Sportswear Beach Decor Christmas Decor And More!

“Important Questions to Ask Your Architect” contact us at

DavidPoolArchitecture.com

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COLOR CABINETS Whether it is a dresser, a bathroom vanity, kitchen cupboards or a kitchen island, cabinets are no longer a standard white or wood. People are bringing color into their homes through use of color in their cabinets and other furnishings.

If you are one who enjoys DIY projects, chalk paint is a popular way to refinish dressers, cabinets, bookcases and more. Chalk paint gives the surface a chalky texture and is often used with a soft wax that seals the paint and produces a matte finish. If you are seeking a more distressed look, some recommend sanding the painted surface and exposing the wood underneath. There are countless options to bring a pop of color to your home interior.

Spruce it up With Succulents Whether you have a green thumb or not, succulents are the perfect plant to bring some of the outside indoors. Because they require little maintenance and are resilient, they make the perfect accent to your dĂŠcor.

One popular trend when it comes to succulents is tabletop terrariums. You can simply use a large mason jar and place some porous pebbles on the bottom followed by a thin layer of moss, potting charcoal and soil and another layer of stones, securing the succulent among the stones.

For some variety, try adding seashells to your display or even some cactus plants.

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The Color of Cop per It is a popular trend in light fixtures, backsplashes, countertops and accent pieces; the color of copper adds class and warmth to any room in your home. And the good news is that adding some copper to your home dĂŠcor does not have to be expensive. You can simply take gold spray paint and add some bling to something you find at the thrift store. Kitchens are a popular place where copper lighting and accents are being seen more and more. From copper countertops, kitchen tables, sinks and light fixtures to canisters and cookware, there are countless ways to add class to your home!

Mosaic Tile Backsp lash While a tile backsplash has a functional purpose to protect the walls in your kitchen or bath, more and more people are using them to create beautiful pieces of art. If you are looking to provide your kitchen or bathroom with a little flare, using mosaic tile for your backsplash is a popular trend.

While providing a classy look, it allows you to maximize your creativity given the vast amount of colors and patterns available.

Whether your home is traditional or contemporary, mosaic tiles will add class and elegance to your space.

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A WINTER WONDERLAND GET AWAY TO WHITEFISH, MONTANA

BY JESSE WURM

TRAVEL & LEISURE

THERE’S JUST SOMETHING about Whitefish, Montana. Whether it’s the cowboy western feel with the saloon fronts on the buildings downtown, the breathtaking views of the mountains, or the effortless immersion with the surrounding wild, this place leaves an imprint on your brain.

What better time to visit this beautiful area than in winter, when there are bountiful opportunities to get outside, play and enjoy the local sights. Frequently dubbed as “the little town with a skiing problem,” Whitefish is your one-stop destination for the perfect snow filled family vacation, a fun weekend of skiing with friends, or a romantic weekend for two.

Pack your warmest layers, a pair of snow boots and have fun discovering one of the coolest little towns in the West.

Here are a few of my favorite Whitefish winter activities, as well as some of the best places to go for brunch, après ski and a wild good time.

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Winter Activities Big Mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort, an endless play land for skiing, boarding, skinning and cross-country skiing. With over 2,500 vertical feet of alpine terrains and 11 chair lifts, plus Nordic and uphill trails, there’s something for every outdoor enthusiast here. There’s already an abundance of snow on the mountain, over 13 feet by the first of this year, the most snow to fall in early season in over 18 years. If you like skiing steep runs with deep powder stashes or enjoy scenic views of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park, the mountain is for you.

Stop at the Summit House or Hellroaring Saloon for lunch and be sure to get some snapshots of the frequent snow ghosts at the top of the hill and the statue of Jesus off of the top of chair two.

The Glacier Nordic Center at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course is the perfect place to head for some sunny or moonlit cross-country skiing. They groom each morning

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HarborHealthandSkincare.net

f

Find us on Facebook!

4221 Harborview Drive Suite 103 Gig Harbor, WA 98335

253.314.2618

PHOTO BY CHUCK HANEY - WWW.CHUCKHANEY.COM

THERE’S ALREADY AN ABUNDANCE OF SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN, OVER 13 FEET

BY THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, THE MOST SNOW TO FALL IN EARLY SEASON IN OVER 18 YEARS. for both skate and classic and have over 12K of groomed trails open during the day, and 4K is lit at night from dusk until 10pm, perfect for a full moon trail adventure.

beyond the Lake McDonald Lodge, but there’s still plenty to see and take photos of.

If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, venture out to the Izaak Walton Inn in Essex, Montana. Located just outside Glacier National Park, the Inn provides over 30K of groomed skated and classic trails. They also have rooms available to lodge in, whether you rent a family cabin, a room in the old log lodge, or sleep in one of the converted luxury rail cars and cabooses. The Izaak Walton Dining Car is a favorite of the locals and guests alike, and at the end of the day you’ll find most of the guests in the bar sipping their hot toddies while playing cards or cribbage.

Whitefish’s newest lodging destination, The Firebrand Hotel, is located in the heart of downtown, just a block from Main Street and across from the local middle school. Its sophisticated urban decor invites you to sit and relax by the fire with a coffee or cocktail. With a restaurant, café and spa on site, you’ll never have to leave the interior if you don’t want to.

While you’re in the area, take the quick drive into Glacier National Park and head to Apgar Village to take in the view of Lake McDonald framed with some of the most breathtaking mountains in the area. The road is closed

Places to Stay

The Firebrand’s sister hotel, The Whitefish Lake Lodge, has been a favorite for years. Located on the shores of Whitefish Lake, the hotel offers a restaurant, bar, spa, shops and infinite views of the surrounding beauty.

If you’re looking for the traditional ski in, ski out experience look no further than the Whitefish Mountain Resort. There are a variety of rooms, condos and homes for rent and

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they’re always throwing in lift tickets as a deal.

Check out their website for reservations: www. skiwhitefish.com.

Fun Events this Winter If you’ve never been to (or heard of) the Whitefish Winter Carnival, plan a trip out this February and you won’t be disappointed.

Started by a group of locals in the 1950s, the carnival will take place during February 3 through 5 this year, with events scattered throughout the month of January leading up to it. It’s a great way to shake off cabin fever and combat the blues of winter.

The founding legend goes that the Nordic god, Ullr, found his home on Big Mountain, along with his Prime Minister and Queen. Their quiet mountain retreat was soon disturbed by the local Yetis’ attempt to kidnap the Queen, so Ullr and his followers fought off the intruders. When humans arrived to the valley, Ullr became their King, and every winter he

Destination, Gig Harbor.

Wesley Inn & Suites 6575 Kimball Drive | Gig Harbor, WA 253.858.9690 | wesleyinn.com

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GIG HARBOR OWNED AND OPERATED

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BIG MOUNTAIN AT WHITEFISH MOUNTAIN RESORT, AN ENDLESS PLAY LAND FOR SKIING, BOARDING, SKINNING AND CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING. WITH OVER 2,500 VERTICAL FEET OF ALPINE TERRAINS AND 11 CHAIR LIFTS, PLUS NORDIC AND UPHILL TRAILS, THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERY OUTDOOR ENTHUSIAST HERE.

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MINUTES TO SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN!

! e m ti w o P

D SAN PO

INT

GO

D SAN PO

INT

GO

! e m ti Downvacation home specialists

208.946.0901 www.GoSandpoint.com steve@gosandpoint.com f/gosandpoint

P R E M I E R VA C AT I O N R E N TA L H O M E S GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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descends from his mountain lair to have a party with the people, and during the celebration the Yetis continue to maintain their futile efforts to capture the Queen. In short, be prepared for plenty of parties and grown men and women frolicking downtown in costumes. Be sure to keep an eye out for those pesky Yetis, too.

Places to Eat The Tupelo Grill, located on Central Ave. downtown, is a New Orleans fair eatery that provides good vibes, great sights and delicious southern comfort food and has a beautiful newly remodeled bar area great for before or after dinner cocktails.

Stillwater Fish House, a favorite around these parts and located off the highway on the way to Canada, has the best seafood selection in town as well as a full oyster bar. Showcasing local and

organic foods with wine and beer by the glass, this is the place for foodies to go.

Montana Coffee Traders is the unofficial City Hall where all walks of life gather to congregate over coffee and community; the town meeting space for local booming businesses and the self employed alike. Grab a fresh baked goodie and a cup of joe and join in on the community communion.

you know the band or not, I guarantee you’ll find yourself on the dance floor at some point in the night.

Nightlife

My favorite après ski cocktail has to be at the Spotted Bear Spirits, a newer craft distillery making gin and vodka and other tasty treats like house infused vodkas, limoncello and coffee liqueur. They are open daily from noon to 8pm and offer tasty hand-mixed creative libations, bottle sales, and Montana-made gifts.

Be sure to stop by.

The Great Northern Bar, cornered on the middle of Central and 1st Street, is the local nightlife establishment that you’ll just have to see for yourself. Decorated with the business signs of local establishments long gone and serving a variety of tall cans and cheap mixed drinks, you can find a roaring band entertaining locals and out-of-towners alike. And, whether

Speaking of local crafts, don’t miss out on the local favorite the Great Northern Brewing Company. Also located downtown on Central Ave., the brewery serves up locally made craft beer, wine and light bites. Open 11am to 11pm daily, this is the perfect spot for gathering with family and friends after skiing on Big Mountain all day.

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Feeling Good is Good to Feel

Relaxed?

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Food & Drink YOUR GUIDE TO LOCAL EATS

WHERE BURGERS ARE AN ART 26 chef-inspired burger options using fresh, locally sourced produce and natural meats.

Blazing Onion 4701 Pt. Fosdick Dr. NW Gig Harbor 253.514.6703 blazingonion.com $-$$

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food, wine & beer

waterfront restaurant with art gallery

enjoy lunch, happy hour & dinner

2014 OPEN TABLE TOP 100

BEST WINE LIST in America as voted by Open Table Diners

amazing salads • filet mignon fresh fish • great wines • happy hour rotating craft beers • patio seating live entertainment • 21+ tuesday - thursday • 4pm-10pm friday & saturday • 11:30am-10:30pm sunday • 2pm-9pm 9014 Peacock Hill Ave. at N. Harborview Dr. at the head of the bay

253.530.DINE (3463)

online reservations at morsowinebar.com

& Tequila Bar AWA R D-W I N N I N G

Mexican Restaurant

Voted #5 Best Mexican Restaurant Bar in America!

2014, 2015 & 2016

2014, 2015 & 2016

The Place To Go For Mexican!

La Roca STEAK

4628 PT FOSDICK DRIVE NW GIG HARBOR, WA 98335 253.851.8464

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YOURLOCALDININGGUIDE

Restaurants with this symbol have public wifi access.

Morso

Satisfy your palate with their amazing gourmet lunch and dinners overlooking spectacular views of the water. Gig Harbor’s best kept secret! Wine list offers a worldwide scope, craft beers on tap, fun food and wine events. Their Morso Gallery provides private dining and a unique experience seeing local & national artists. Live music events feature amazing artists from around the country. Hours: Tue-Thurs 4-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-12am, Sun 2-9pm.

9014 Peacock Hill Ave at N. Harborview Dr. morsowinebar.com | 253.530.3463

Green.House Restaurant

Come and try their delicious new additions and nightly specials!

Offering lunch, twilight, dinner and happy hour. Also serving a 3 course twilight dinner for $20 all night on Sunday. Their small and bigger bites menu offers fun, deliciously sharable plates. Open Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm and Sun 11am-8pm.

4793 Point Fosdick Dr. NW, Ste. 400 253.514.6482 | greenhousegigharbor.com

Harbor General Store

The Harbor General Store is a gourmet market, cafe and gift boutique, where the community comes to get supplies and gifts and feel connected. They sell goods that are quality and made in America and are passionate about the environment, creating jobs and supporting artisans. MondaySaturday 7am-7pm, Sunday 8am-5pm. Drive thru opens 6am Mon-Fri. Free WiFi! 7804 Pioneer Way 253.358.3241 www.theharborgeneralstore.com

Yo! G’s Frozen Yogurt

Gig Harbor’s family owned and operated self-serve frozen yogurt store offers ten varieties of yogurt that rotate on a regular basis and over 60 toppings!

Included are dairy free, gluten free, and sugar free options. Try one of their delicious flavors today. You’ll be sure to come back for more!

4784 Borgen Blvd. NW, Suite E 253.858.9647

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The Hub

at

Gig Harbor

Taste

Peru

Enjoy great local foods, wine and craft brews, and patio with live music and flat screen TVs. Watch from your table as airplanes take off and land. Monday Trivia Night, Taco Tuesdays, Wine Down Wednesdays and Thirsty Thursday’s Open Mic Night with Mike. Come enjoy happy hour on our patio! Now delivering lunch!

1208 26th Ave. NW 253.853.1585 | www.thehubrestaurants.com

of

Taste of Peru offers traditional Peruvian dishes as well as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options. Two-year running Bite of Seattle winner for their quinoa salads. They prepare their meals from scratch and use fresh ingredients in order to offer a lighter and healthier option without compromising flavor.

Hours are Tue-Fri 11:30am-3pm and 4:308pm. Sat 11:30am-9pm. Sun 12-8pm.

5500 Olympic Drive NW, Ste D -101 253.313.5198 tasteofperuonline.com

Harbor Farms Seafood

Meats

and

NW natural meat products. All wild caught fish and homemade marinated meats - go pick up dinner! Freezer case with exotic hard to find products, specialty items, soups. The best pork you can buy from the Midwest! Open 7 days a week Mon-Sat 9am-8pm and Sun 9am6pm.

6820A Kimball Drive, Suite 7 253.313.5640 harborfarmsmeatsandseafood.com

Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant

Voted best Mexican Restaurant in South Sound Magazine for 2015! Since 1978, Moctezuma’s has been the favorite of those seeking authentic Mexican food and award winning Margaritas. Go visit their Gig Harbor location and enjoy their Tequila Bar for daily happy hour specials and an array of delicious appetizers. They have WiFi! 4628 Pt. Fosdick Drive NW 253.851.8464 moctezumas.com

QUALITY MEATS

FRESH SEAFOODS

SPECIALTY FOODS

We carry 100% grass fed beef Marketplace Grille

American cuisine with a Caribbean flair. The best Fish and Chips and Clam Chowder in Gig Harbor! Located next to Anthony’s Restaurant and offers an expansive view of the harbor. Family owned and operated. Beer and Wine, Take Out Menu available. Hours MonThurs, 11am-8pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-9pm, Sun, 11am-8pm.

8825 North Harborview Drive, Unit C 253.858.3487 themarketplacegrille.com

• NW Natural Meat Products • All Wild Caught Fish • Homemade Marinated Meats Come Pick Up Dinner!

• Freezer Case With Exotic Hard To Find Products • Specialty Items And Soups

FREE POUND

of ground chuck when you spend $30 or more

Blazing Onion

Locally owned featuring 26 chef inspired burger options, salad creations and more. Fresh, locally sourced produce and natural meats, chicken, buffalo, turkey and vegetarian options. Hours: SunThurs: 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm.

Sports Lounge: Sun: 11am-10pm, MonThurs: 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-12am.

4701 Point Fosdick Drive NW blazingonion.com | 253.514.6703

WWW.HARBORFARMSMEATSANDSEAFOOD.COM 253-313-5640 | 6820A Kimball Drive Suite 7 Gig Harbor, WA 98335 Open 7 days a week Monday-Saturday 9am-8pm Sunday 9am-6pm

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Food & Drink Recipe PURDY PICKLED BEET SALAD

Occasions

Coffee and Crepes Est. 2000

Recipe courtesy of the Waterfront Farmers Market

Gather Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •

CREPES Paninis & Sandwiches Build Your Own Crepes Salads & Soups Forza Coffee All Recyclable Packaging & Utensils

1 heart of romaine lettuce ½ jar of beets 2 TB raspberry preserves ½ red onion ½ cup of feta cheese ½ cup of walnuts 4 radishes 2 ribs celery 3 TB olive oil 2 TB vinegar

Put it Together

Local Artisan Gifts

1.

Toast nuts for 3 to 4 minutes

Ray and Jan Wainright, owners of Occasions Coffee & Crepes since 2000 and Gig Harbor residents.

2.

Chop produce and combine

3.

Drain beets and add to produce

4.

Whisk preserves, oil and vinegar

5.

Dress salad

6.

Top with the feta cheese

Ray Wainright Owner

NOW SERVING OUR MUSHROOM LEEK CREPES!

4700 Pt Fosdick Dr NW, Ste 109 Gig Harbor, WA 98335

While we often hear of broccoli, green beans, carrots and asparagus, radishes are a vegetable that gets little attention. But if we knew all the benefits that consuming them brings, we may just start adding them to our diet. Here are just some of the ways they can contribute to healthy eating: • • • • • • •

Aids with digestion Prevent viral infections Elimiates toxins Helps to prevent against cancer Relieves indigestion Low calories, high nutritional value Helps keep you hydrated

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We exist to NOW make your life

Easier and Healthier We plan, shop, chop and slice for YOU! Our frozen meals won’t spoil, so you can use them when you want! Simply pull them out of the freezer and cook to your standards using the enclosed cooking instructions.

Dinner, Breakfast, Side Dishes & Desserts Dinner & Party-Sized orders available New Parent Packages, Post-surgery Packages

Order at: www.frozenknifeforkspoon.com Dinner. Healthy. Fast. Delicious.

2609 Jahn Ave., Suite F5, Gig Harbor

f frozenknifeforkspoon.com

Fine Dining with Endless Views

of Mt. Rainier and the Gig Harbor Lighthouse.

Walk-Ins & Reservations Lunch Tue~Sat 11am to 2pm Happy Hour 3pm to 5:30pm Dinner Tues~Sat 4pm to close Closed Sunday & Monday

253.851.3167 • Lunch & Dinner

2905 Harborview Drive NW

Cocktails ~ Premium Beers ~ Extended Wine List

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www.thegreenturtle.com

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Do you prefer walnuts or pecans?

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F I NH O L M ’ S G ROCERY

&

DELI

Backwoods Brewery Night

FEB. 17th 5-7pm

Hours: Monday-Friday, 6am-11pm, Sat-Sun, 7am-11pm

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Arts & Entertainment LOCAL EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

WHAT LIES BENEATH Explore the maritime creatures that live in our water

By Patty Hutchens

IF YOU HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED Harbor WildWatch’s Pier into the Night event, the time is slipping away—well, for this season anyway. The last two opportunities will be on February 4 at 6pm and again on March 4 at 7pm. It is a great opportunity to see native marine life up close.

According to Franco Ramos of Harbor WildWatch, they have touch tanks with a variety of sea creatures that are collected before the show begins and released back into the water after the night concludes. Some of the creatures include moon snails, red rock crabs and sea cucumber.

“The main attraction of the event is always the ‘Live Dive,’ where our two volunteer dive masters give us a live video stream of what lives beneath the briny depths of Maritime Pier,” said Ramos, adding that there is also commentary provided by Science Specialist Stena Troyer.

It is anyone’s guess what creatures will show up but there are gunnels, sculpins, sticklebacks, herring, dozens of kinds of fish and even more kinds of invertebrates. “There is also a treasure chest that we hide inside one of the shipwrecks under the dock that we like to end the dive with,” said Ramos.

“The divers like to bring some prop or hide a large crab to surprise the audience with at the end.”

Pier into the Night began in 2009 and added the component of the live dive in 2013. It is a great time for all ages, and kids especially love the experience.

To find out more, visit www.harborwildwatch.org.

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SERVING GIG HARBOR SINCE 2002 At Turco’s Automotive we don’t just care about your car, we care about you!

mercedes-benz OF Tacoma

1701 Alexander Avenue East, Fife WA

WE LIKE TO GIVE BACK! Please ask about our Military and Senior Discounts

Your purchase of new wearable art benefits the YWCA Pierce County’s life-saving domestic violence services.

gala preview

March 9th 6PM – 9PM

gala tickets

call: 253.272.4181 x 352 visit: ragswearableart.org $80 per person

253.851.0500

sale & Gallery

3523 57th ST CT NW, Gig Harbor, WA www.turcosautomotive.com

admission is free

Find us on google/Turco’s Automotive

March 10th & 11th 10Am – 6PM March 12th 10Am – 4PM

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FEB

Wait Until Dark

11

Now through February 11. Come enjoy Paradise Theatre’s current production, a mystery drama, Wait Until Dark. A sinister con man, Roat, and two ex-convicts, Mike and Carlino, are about to meet their match.

They have traced the location of a mysterious doll, which they are much interested in, to the Greenwich Village apartment of Sam Hendrix and his blind wife. Tickets can be purchased online at www.paradisetheatre.org

First Saturday Art Walk

FEB

04

FEB

04

Come enjoy the First Saturday Art Walk!

Gallery Row, Maritime Jewelers, Ebb Tide Gallery, Blackwater Trading Co, Morso, Waters Edge Gallery and Sea Hags are all participating. Pick up your passport at the first gallery you visit, receive a stamp from all galleries, and you’ll be entered to win a $50 gift certificate! Open 10am to 5pm. Art Demos 1 to 4pm. Photo by Diane Fetzner.

Pier Into The Night

FEB

FEB

FEB

Humanities in the Harbor

Guam Annual New Year Celebration

Winter Sip and Stroll

09

Harbor History Museum and Tacoma Community College - Gig Harbor campus are excited to present Humanities in the Harbor, a monthly lecture series that explores unique and engaging topics for the Gig Harbor community that will run throughout 2017.

Admission is $5 and can be purchased online at www.harborhistorymuseum.org or by calling 253.858.6722

11

Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents GUAM - 19TH ANNUAL NEW YEAR CELEBRATION in the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall at 11am. Free admission to this family event that includes over 70 booths of food and drinks, cultural arts, retail, games, crafts and more plus live entertainment.

Discover the unique Puget Sound animals that come out at night, and you won’t even have to get wet! Join Harbor Wild Watch for touch tanks, underwater lights, and a live video stream from SCUBA divers under Jerisich Dock at Skansie Park in Gig Harbor.

Dives are at 5pm and 6pm. Flashlights and life jackets are recommended. www.harborwildwatch.org.

11

Love the wine you’re with just in time for Valentine’s Day! Sip on wine, beer and spirits and enjoy fun food samples while visiting various shops and galleries serving as Stroll Stops along Gig Harbor’s beautiful downtown waterfront. All proceeds will sponsor local community projects.

Visit gigharborwaterfront.org for more information.

Upcoming Events - March 04

PIER INTO THE NIGHT

07

09

GIG HARBOR LITERARY SOCIETY

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RAGS WEARABLE ART SHOW

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WEST SIDE STORY

FEB

11

Roses and Rosedale Winter Edition: A Historical Walking Tour of Sehmel Homestead Park Last fall, over 40 people attended our first historical walking tour of Sehmel Homestead Park. Due to that success, we are planning to hold the event seasonally to show the beauty of this park at every time of the year. Along the route, the staff of EnviroCorps will talk about the history of the Sehmel family, their farm, and their place as one of the original pioneering families of the Rosedale area of Gig Harbor. As your guides lead the way through the parks trails, we will share information on many noteworthy plants along the way.

Please meet at the flagpoles, in front of the snack bar, across from Volunteer Vern Pavilion. This event is free, family friendly and will be held rain or shine from 11am to 12pm. Photo courtesy of Vantage Point Photography online.

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FEB

14

Valentine’s Day 2017 at Morso Looking for a great place for dinner with your sweetie? Just for Valentine’s Day Morso will have a special menu that will satisfy your craving for steak, seafood and other special entrees. If you prefer regular menu items, they are available also. Go enjoy a great night with your sweetheart by making your reservation by telephone and call 253.530.3463. Please call early to make reservations for this is arguably the most popular dining evening of the year.

FEB

FEB

FEB

Hillary Scott

Third Thursdays at the Museum

The Stephanie Porter Quartet

Harbor History Museum is thrilled to say “Dobro pozhalovat’ natrag!” (Welcome back!) to the inimitable Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet on Thursday, February 16 from 7 to 8:30pm. To purchase tickets, go online or contact the Front Desk at 253.858.6722. For questions and inquiries, contact Liz Pedersen, Guest Services, at liz@harborhistorymuseum.org.

Seattle native Stephanie Porter, a naturally-gifted vocalist, has had a passion for music her whole life. At the young age of 19, she began sitting in local jazz clubs.

Porter quickly grew as an artist, opening for a multitude of national acts. She will bring her talent to Morso at 8pm. Call Morso for tickets at 253.530.3463

FEB

Mardi Gras in Gig Harbor

16

11

Olalla’s Community Hall, 12970 Olalla Valley Road SE, hosts a monthly music series featuring world-class musicians from throughout the U.S. The music starts at 7pm. For information and reservations call 253.438.0078 or visit olallahouse.org.

FEB

18

Fat Tuesday Celebration at Morso. Let the good times roll with Morso on Fat Tuesday, Feb 28. We will be cooking authentic New Orleans and cajun cuisine for the day! Enjoy Shrimp and Grits, Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo, Fried Green Tomatoes and Remoulade and others. We will also have a special treat flown in directly from New Orleans, King Cake! Enjoy some authentic cajun cuisine or order off of our menu and let the good times roll!

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Empty Bowls

18

Come to the Gig Harbor Boys and Girls Club on February 18 to enjoy a delicious meal. Purchase a beautiful handcrafted bowl, starting at $10, and choose a delicious soup created and donated by local chefs and restaurants, all while listening to music by the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. 100 percent of all the proceeds of this event will go to feed hungry kids in the Peninsula School District.

Upcoming Events - March 11

IRA WOLF

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HUMANITIES IN THE HARBOR

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OUR TOWN: IRELAND

01 APR

GREEN GIG

Mid-Century mod scandanavian & retro style furnishings and decor

5125 Olympic Drive NW Gig Harbor, WA 253.858.7226 moodgigharbor.com shop@moodgigharbor.com

Get a free eye serum sample today by entering your email at ellescott.realresults.com

Elle Scott 360.620.1418

ellescott.successtoday.com

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Complete

Your Valentine A heart shaped box of chocolates and you can eat the box! Choose the pieces and we’ll personalize it while you wait.

Narrows Business Park ❤ 3303 Jahn Ave NW, Gig Harbor, WA ❤ (253) 313-5804 GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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Tuesday-Friday, 10:30am-5:30pm Saturday, 11:00am-4:00pm

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR ART ALL OVER AGAIN Get 20% off Re-framing during the month of February For all your Custom Framing Needs!

No job is too big or too small!

Beth Bennett • 253.851.3440 • Gig Harbor, WA 98335 • www.proartcustomframing.com

6745 Kimball Dr. Ste. E. beth@proartcustomframing.com

Call to make your Outdoor

Space into an Outdoor Experience

253.380.7554 www.YardsByPacific.com

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OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW OPEN AND AVAILABLE FOR ALL TYPES OF SERVICE OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW OPEN AND

AVAILABLE FOR ALL TYPES OF SERVICE FULL RESTORATION • TUNE UPS • ELECTRICAL WORK

FULL RESTORATION • BODY WORK • PAINTING • TUNE UPS • ELECTRICAL WORK FUEL SYSTEM RESTORATION

COOLING SYSTEM RESTORATION

BRAKE SYSTEM RESTORATION

ALWAYS ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR COLLECTOR CARS TO BUY

Winter is the perfect time to bring your car in and have us restore your fuel system. It’s a fact that one of the main reasons your car might be running uneasy is poor gas. For less than you think, we can remove your 1936 SERIES 70 your tank, clean and coat it, replace CADILLAC hard lines, soft lines, and filters for less money than taking it to a shop $36,000 and having it tuned up, again.

We see this a lot- when asked when the last time our client flushed his cooling system out, they respond, “never.” What??! Restoring your cooling system is so important and can negatively impact your car if you 1966 PONTIAC don’t. If you can’t remember when GTO the last time you had your radiator checked and cooling system flushed, $17,000 come in for some free advice!

JIMSCLASSICGARAGE.COM THE ULTIMATE GARAGE SALE

206-406-1313 We are located in Gig Harbor at 3522 57TH St. CT NW GigHarborLivingLocal.com in the Westside 115Business Park

We see some pretty scary cars come in to our shop. Imagine driving down the road in your classic car. Now a break line up front springs a leak.

Good luck at the stop sign! We can install an upgraded brake system, so 1966 CORVETTE much cheaper than what it’s going to costSTINGRAY to fix the rear end of that cop car you$48,000 just rear ended. Come in for some advice, it’s free!

(253) 530-7300

Fax (253) 530-7301 (253) 530-7300GigHarborLivingLocal.com

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