How-To Guide 2021

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A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

How-To Guide

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

How to ...

Choose a f ireplace or insert Shopping for a fireplace or fireplace insert can be a complex process.

At Gallery of Fireplaces, we will help guide you through it.

Special to The Enterprise Shopping for a fireplace or fireplace insert can be a complex process. Many people come into our shop and really don’t know where to begin. Many of our projects are gas fireplace although electric fireplaces have become popular and a small percentage of wood and pellet products.

At Gallery of Fireplaces, we will help guide you through the process.

It typically starts out with a visit to our showroom. It is very helpful if the customer brings in a couple of pictures of their fireplace as well a pictures of what they may like.

Here are some things to think about when getting started.

What type is your project?

■ Do you want an energy efficient gas insert into your existing fireplace?

■ Do you want to completely replace your existing fireplace or start with a blank wall?

Details After deciding what type of project you have, we can focus on some

Courtesy photo

While being energy efficient and a focal point of your home, a new fireplace can add value to your home. of the details.

■ Do you already have a gas line to the area?

■ Are you looking for something

more square or linear?

■ Are you looking for something more traditional or modern?

■ Are you looking for a full facelift

with tile or stone?

■ Are you looking for a mantel shelf or a full mantel with legs?

■ Would you like a sitting heath or

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no hearth at all?

■ Would you like to have a TV installed above the fireplace?

We will always set up a site check appointment at the customers house to take measurements, pictures and answer any additional questions.

After the site check, we will present an estimate listing all products and labor. If all is agreed upon, a deposit is placed, an installation date is selected and we order you items.

While being energy efficient and a focal point of your home, a new fireplace can add value to your home.

From start to finish, we are your one stop shop.

How-To Guide

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How to ...

Special to The Enterprise Purchasing fine jewelry is an expensive proposition. While you’ll fine dazzling jewelry in many stories online and at shopping centers, you’ll want to consult a professional jeweler to help you make the best decision.

Most reliable jewelers have been in business for years and have developed a reputation for quality and fair prices. They’ll guide you through the variety of jewelry available to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

How do you pick the best jeweler in your area?

Finding someone with excellent skills is the first thing to consider.

Quality jewelers offer reasonable pricing and fantastic customer service. Do not make the mistake of basing your decision on cost alone.

They may also offer other products from off-site manufacturers.

In general, they are an excellent resource.

Jewelers and watch repair technicians have undergone extensive

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Choose a jeweler training and should have certifications to prove it.

They also attend periodic classes to keep current on regulations within the industry. Many jewelers travel to professional shows featuring the latest trends. They maintain their knowledge and understanding of the precious metal and gemstone markets.

Technical expertise isn’t the only aspect to consider. Customers who receive superior service are likely to return for future purchases.

You’ll want to work with someone who sees more than dollar signs behind each customer.

Guarantees are essential. It is a fundamental factor in establishing a long-term relationship with the public and a track record of satisfied customers.

Top professionals offer free repair and unlimited service for the life of the jewelry.

People often regard their jewelry as a kind of financial or sentimental investment for family members.

A professional understands the emotional bonds symbolized by a piece of jewelry, and treats it accordingly. Many jewelers are sensitive to the needs of each customer.

A discount store may offer an

Enterprise file photo

Lu’Ro Jewelers staff Diego Rodríguez and Jose L. Lopez know the jewelry business. unbelievable price on a piece of jewelry. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Inexpensive

prices are often an indicator of lower quality gemstones and metal components with lower purity.

When the item breaks, it might be impossible to take it back for a repair or replacement because the seller has moved on. Some dealers focus solely on profit.

Doing business with a jeweler you know and trust will make a big difference when it is time to make a significant investment in a ring, necklace or watch. He or she will make every effort to get you the best possible price without sacrificing quality.

If you have been doing business with the same shop for a long time, you should expect a high level of service. The item should be guaranteed every time.

Anyone can sell jewelry. Malls across America are filled with jewelry stores. But a dedicated professional jeweler doesn’t just sell precious metals or gemstones. He or she brings a keen eye for the beautiful and stunning quality of each piece.

It is true that price is important, but it shouldn’t be your top consideration. You will get better value for your money when you do business with a jeweler you can trust — now and 20 years from today.

High-quality workmanship starts with the jewelry and ends with your satisfaction.

241 F Street, Davis 530.231.5443 Thousands of styles to choose from: Diamond Rings • Pendants • Earrings

Services: Jewelry Repair • Restorations • Engraving Watch Batteries • Appraisals • Consignments

www.lurojewelers.com lurojewelers@gmail.com MONDAY-FRIDAY 10AM-6PM SATURDAY 10AM-4PM

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How-To Guide

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How to ...

Choose an assisted living facility Special to The Enterprise Welcome to Solano Life House, which has been serving Solano County from Dixon since 1985. My name is Mary Felix, and I have been passionate about senior care for 18 years, and responsible for distinguishing Solano Life House as its administrator since 2015 with award-winning memory care by thinking and acting differently. We care for the whole family and our families actively participate in our residents’ lives and our community like extended family. When searching for care, you’ll have two overriding concerns, so I’ll address those with regard to our mission at Solano Life House.

Choosing an assisted living facility is about finding the right combination of medical services and amenities.

Care Our caregivers and med-techs receive mandatory bi-monthly training as part of an extensive program so that our staff is ever evolving in its competence in care, safety and professionalism. By choice we maintain one of the highest staff-toresident ratios in the industry, to ensure attentive care. We’re a 38-bed home which we believe is perfectly sized — more intimate than life at impersonal corporate facilities — yet larger than a board and care home. We have an activities team dedicated to adding joy to our residents’ lives. We remain actively engaged with the world and the community — not removed from life — as our name Solano Life House implies. Our mission is beyond merely housing our residents and providing care — we strive to enhance their lives every day.

Cost We look at the complete picture when caring for our residents, and their families are a large part of that concern, so we’ve done

Metro/stock photo

something unique in senior care.

We are the only senior care home in Northern California which offers our unique, flat fee for Lifeprogram. Corporate care homes charge by severity of care levels as a resident’s health declines, charge service fees for every action taken — down to answering a call light and emptying a waste basket, charge for all supplies, and impose rent increases over time. With large corporate owned facilities — irrespective of the base ‘rent’ that you pay — you will never know how much you will be charged monthly, but it always increases.

We do not charge this way. There are no surprises with us. Everyone pays a flat, fixed price. You will always pay the same shared-room rate as all residents — $3,450 for

assisted living, $4,450 for memory care with our Flat Fee for Life, for as long as you choose to remain at Solano Life House. You will never see an itemized bill from us, because we don’t bill. There’s nothing to itemize.

Accommodations Our 38-room ranch-style home environment is the only California state-licensed senior assisted living facility located in Dixon. We have been serving Solano County from this location since this purpose built location was erected in 1985.

Though we encourage shared rooms for our residents, given the immeasurable benefits of companionship and socialization through cohabitation. We do offer private

rooms when appropriate, and all rooms include private bathrooms.

Each room also includes an individual climate control, so individual comfort is in each resident’s control.

Residents have the option of personalizing their rooms with their own furnishings and decorations to add familiarity and comfort. All rooms are pre-wired for cable television and private phone lines.

Safety Solano Life House is one of only five facilities located in Northern California which has a secured building with secured exterior doors, perimeter and courtyard — therefore suitable for all residents including active residents with dementia and sundowners. These

security measures allow our residents access to our outside courtyard garden patio. The health and safety of our residents is our primary concern at the Solano Life House. Toward that end, we hold on-going staff training and drills in all aspects of safety, including OSHA-approved evacuation training. Our residents’ rooms are equipped with emergency call systems and we maintain a schedule of 30 minute checks on every resident, on every shift, twenty-four hours a day, to ensure their safety and fall prevention.

We salute our staff for shepherding our community with no lives lost to COVID-19.

Schedule a visit by calling 707640-9700 or emailing info@ SolanoLifeHouse.com.

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How-To Guide

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021 C5

www.SolanoLifeHouse.com FLAT FEE FOR LIFE

$3,450 Assisted Living, $4,450 Memory Care Pandemic Protocols in place to accept Vaccinated New Residents

We salute our staff for shepherding our community with no lives lost to COVID-19

License #486801298

My name is Mary Felix and I’ve been passionate about senior care for eighteen years, and responsible for distinguishing Solano Life House, as the Administrator, with award winning Memory Care since 2015. Call me to discuss serving your family’s needs.

707-640-9700

Administrator Mary Felix: Mary@SolanoLifeHouse.com

How-To Guide

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How to ...

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2021

Choose a gold buyer

Special to The Enterprise Gold prices will always be volatile, subject to the peaks and valleys of the economy and markets. But it’s also always a solid investment that can be a safeguard against inflation and declines in currencies.

Whether you came by it through inheritance or by discovering valuable gold items around the house, selling gold is a common way to get quick cash.

It also comes with a huge risk: potential dealings with unscrupulous experts who lack experience in determining the proper value of these items. Many pieces of jewelry might be worth more than their gold content or melt value.

Anyone can make a mistake, but fly-by-night operators will often offer far less than the melt value of the gold in these items. They are counting on your lack of knowledge.

Infomercials have also flooded the airwaves with ploys offering “immediate cash for your unwanted gold.” But mailing gold in flimsy prepaid envelopes to these dealers is the same as dropping cash into the mail.

Exercise caution when selling gold. While many buyers are honest and reputable, finding them

Exercise caution when selling gold.

While many buyers are honest and reputable, finding them requires research.

Metro/Stock photo

requires research.

Here are some tips to help you get the most money from selling your unwanted gold.

Research Do some research to determine the gold content of an item. Gold is soft, so it must be alloyed with other metals to increase its hard-

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ness and durability.

Jewelry usually has an inscription identifying the purity of its gold content. For instance, 24-karat gold contains 99.9 percent gold. It is measured in terms of a troy ounce, equal to about 1.097 avoirdupois ounces, the kind of ounce we use in measuring butter, flour and body weight. One troy ounce of 14-karat gold contains

14/24th troy ounce of the pure metal.

Visit reputable jewelry stores Next, take your gold items to reputable jewelers in your area for their opinion. A jeweler may charge a small fee for this service. It is the

best way to establish the gold content when the piece lacks markings.

Take it to more than one jeweler to verify the findings.

The Better Business Bureau and the Internet are valuable sources of information about gold buyers.

Poor dealers usually leave a pile of complaints from disgruntled sellers whom they’ve allegedly cheated. Do not deal with these companies.

Also, if a gold buyer operates from their home or business unrelated to precious metals, be careful.

They probably don’t have enough experience to provide an accurate evaluation of your items.

It pays to use a local business. If you must mail your gold items, insure the package and use registered mail available at the United States Postal Service. You could use a shipper that offers package tracking and delivery verification. Do not trust someone you don’t know and have never met.

Learn as much as you can before visiting a gold dealer. Information is your ally. There are reputable gold buyers doing business today, and they will pay you for the true value of your piece. Doing the proper research and taking precautions will help you find the best people doing business today.

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WE ARE QUICK CASH BUYERS OF ALL DIAMONDS - INSTANT CASH OFFERS

Locally owned & operated for 29 years

VALUE GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE

219 Parker Street • Vacaville • 707-447-3231

How-To Guide

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How to ...

Select an effective dog trainer

Special to The Enterprise Dogs make for ready learners.

When they’re well-trained, that can be great. Dogs can do amazing things, in the process cementing a closer bond with their owners. But it’s just as easy for an untrained dog to learn bad habits.

Dogs are intelligent and, like all smart animals, they learn through observation and through repeated experience.

In order to ensure that your dog is learning the right kind of habits, you need to train it. The right training can work wonders for a dog, transforming a difficult animal into a well-adjusted member of the family. By being consistent, reinforcing good habits and investing a little time and money, you very well may be able to turn what seems like a hopeless case into an obedient and loyal companion.

The right dog trainer can be the key to that kind of transformation.

Think through the following tips when you begin your search for a good dog trainer.

Positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement is the gold standard for training your dog. The American Humane Society recom-

mends using only those trainers who practice positive reinforcement.

This method involves the use of incentives to encourage and reward your dog’s good behavior: food, play time, praise and attention.

Try to watch the dog trainer in action. Observe their techniques and pay attention to how they interact with the animals. Decide whether you’re comfortable with their style of communicating with the dogs they train.

The American Humane Society also lists some training techniques that trainers should avoid. These include yelling, choking, shaking the scruff, tugging on the leash, forcing the dog onto its back and any actions that cause fright or inflict pain.

Fortunately, positive reinforcement has become the dominant method in dog training today, so you’re likely to find plenty of trainers who use praise and attention to effectively encourage good behaviors from your pet.

Ask around If you know someone who has a well-behaved dog, guess what?

They’re probably an ideal source of information for advice on selecting

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a trainer for your dog, too.

If you know someone who has the seemingly perfect pet, ask them who their trainer is. They should be happy to share advice and let you know who has had a role in training their dogs, along with feedback on how the process went.

It’s best to find several good trainers to pick from, so make a short list based on your research and talking with other dog owners.

Trainers aren’t usually regulated by the government, so do your own research about the level of qualifications and years of experience for each trainer you talk with.

Class formats

about getting them to behave at home.

For another, your dog will more comfortably transition their training to your house if you’ve been involved in the training process. If you leave your dog with a trainer without getting involved, they may end up responding better to the trainer than they do to you at home.

In general, it’s best for the dog’s owner — and even the whole family, if possible — to participate in the training process. Classes that involve the owner are likely to get the best results for a variety of reasons.

For one, you’ll be able to talk to other dog owners and watch how they interact with their pets. You’ll be able to learn as much as your pets do

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Other questions When you go to observe a dog trainer in action, the American Humane Society recommends that you note the following things: ■ Is class size limited to allow for individual attention?

■ Are there separate classes for puppies and adult dogs?

■ Are there different class levels (for example, beginner, intermediate, and advanced)?

■ Are training equipment and methods humane?

■ Does the trainer use a variety of methods to meet dogs’ individual needs?

■ Is proof of vaccination required?

■ Are the students, both human and canine, enjoying themselves?

■ Are dogs and owners actively encouraged?

■ Is praise given frequently?

■ Are voice commands given in upbeat tones?

■ Are lesson handouts available?

■ Is information available on how dogs learn, basic grooming, problem-solving and related topics?

An effective dog trainer will have lots of hands-on experience, not just fancy letters after her name.

Sue Cockrell/Enterprise file photo

How-To Guide

C8 The Davis Enterprise

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How to ...

Choose a furniture store

Special to The Enterprise Just because you can assemble furniture yourself doesn’t mean you should.

While an Ikea desk or shelving unit may work in the home office, the spaces you dine, relax and entertain should be filled with quality, well-made furniture crafted of solid materials and fabrics that will last.

So choosing the right furniture for your home means choosing a furniture store. You may be able to get some ideas of what you’re looking for online, but you’ll always want to see, try out and imagine what those pieces will look like in your home.

Because you won’t always find furniture that suits your tastes or style, or works for your budget, the process can be challenging. But it can also be fun.

Here are some things to look for in a quality furniture store.

Quality that lasts Look for a store that sells quality, long-lasting furniture.

While inexpensive accessories can be bought cheaply and changed often, big furniture investments — sofas, dining tables, and the like —

need to be purchased for the long term.

That means putting solid construction before a pretty style.

Solid construction isn’t always apparent at first glance. It should feel solid, not flimsy, of course.

Beyond that, find out as much information as possible about the frame, materials and what kind of warranty it comes with.

A well-trained staff can inform you about their furniture, how they’re built and why the construction matters. The best stores have employees who act as guides and teachers, not pushy salespeople.

Value, not just price It is best to pay more for a quality piece than to try to save money on something that will not last in the long term. The bigger the investment, the more important the design and quality become.

Concentrate on finding the best value. An inexpensive sofa will not be a good value if it is built with cheap and weak materials. Likewise, the most expensive love seat will have a wise investment if the frame is not built solidly.

It’s best to look for brands with a long track record and good

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reputation.

Service and delivery Every store has a different customer service policy. Choose a store that is well known for being loyal to its customers.

Inquire about return policies.

Some furniture stores will allow you to exchange an item within a certain time limit if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Learn what fees are involved if you have to return an item — if that is allowed at all.

Also, be certain to ask about the store’s delivery policy, including how much it costs, how far they’ll deliver and how quickly your furniture will arrive.

If you are comparison shopping, factor in the delivery cost when considering different stores. A lowpriced couch will not save you money if it comes with an expensive delivery fee. It may be worth it to pay a little more for the couch if free or reduced cost delivery is available.

The bottom line is that there are only two things that matter: the quality of the furniture you are purchasing, and the level of service you receive. Once you discover them both, furniture shopping can be a fun experience that that will

EVERYTHING

David DeLeon/Enterprise photo

Elaine and John Cloutier will be happy to help you find the quality, comfort, style and value in your next furniture purchase. Lainey’s Furniture for Living offers a complete selection of quality name brand furniture. beautify your home for many years.

And you can be happy and comfort-

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able with the furniture for generations to come.