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Don Hansen’s vision reached another milestone when Cascade Park Communities recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its memory care facility, Cascade Park Gardens, with an in-house celebration and a private party at C.I. Shenanigans.
The vision of the Gardens began in 1994 when Hansen, a local businessman and licensed professional engineer, perceived a lack of affordable senior living facilities in the Puget Sound region when he was investigating the options for his then 85-year-old father. Hansen found that many organizations offered living accommodations, but the services and prices appeared to be beyond the scope of the average senior citizen. Additionally, he decided that most existing facilities didn’t offer fulfilling senior activities.
From that observation, Hansen moved forward with the design and construction of Cascade Park Gardens, a 95-bed licensed boarding home located in south Tacoma which held its grand opening in 1995. Hansen remains active in the business the manager and president of Cascade Park Communities.
In 1998, Hansen had the opportunity to purchase a second community, the former Grand Vista, located near downtown Tacoma. He soon renamed it Cascade Park Vista, and this 112-room facility became Cascade Park Communities’ operational headquarters. Formerly the Doric Hotel, Cascade Park Vista is located in the heart of the Stadium Historical District and is a thriving home to over 100 vulnerable seniors/adults, many of whom are funded by the state’s Medicaid program, which aligns with Hansen’s passion and commitment to offer a safe, comfortable, vibrant community to those in need of assisted living without regard to their financial situation.
Following the purchase of Cascade Park Vista, which was open assisted-living, Hansen decided to convert the Gardens into a specialized, secure memory care community. Hansen said there was a need in the community for such a facility.
Today, as Cascade Park Gardens celebrates its 20th anniversary, 80 residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia call it home. It also provides jobs for 60 people, several of whom have been with the company for the entire 20 years.
Hansen, who is now in his 80s himself, is still dedicated to bringing Tacoma affordable assisted-living and adult day services. He said the caring staff helps the assisted-living residents and day health participants enjoy day-to-day living with grace and dignity. The emphasis of the communities is to provide safe, comfortable and competent assisted care, and to promote independence by encouraging individuals to stay active within our supportive environments.
A spokeswoman for his company said Hansen is conjuring up yet another way to serve seniors and adults in need throughout Pierce County and beyond. You just never know what the next 20 years might bring, she noted. As Hansen says, “We are in the business of producing smiles.”

Cascade Park Communities founder Don Hansen was joined by his wife, Jean, at the company's 20th anniversary celebration.
Cascade Park Communities founder Don Hansen was joined by his wife, Jean, at the company’s 20th anniversary celebration.
srmedia by — December 16, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

Bartell Drugs is partnering with the Salvation Army to provide holiday gifts for children in need by collecting new, unwrapped toys during the 12th annual Salvation Army Toy ‘N Joy drive through Dec. 13.

The toy donations will be accepted at 61 Bartell stores in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties and later distributed to low-income children and youth the week before Christmas through the Salvation Army’s “toy warehouses.”

Ways to donate include choosing a gift request tag from the Toy ‘N’ Joy display in stores and depositing the gift and corresponding tag in the donation barrel, and donating any new, unwrapped gifts appropriate for children up to 14 years old.

“This communitywide drive helps make the holiday season brighter for deserving children in the neighborhoods we serve,” said Bartell president Brian Unmacht. “The generous response by our customers over the past 11 years has been gratifying.”

The drive in 2014 generated 4,543 donations.

srmedia by — December 8, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

If you’ve received a replacement for your credit or debit cards in the mail lately, take a closer look. That little gold chip on the front is going to make it tougher for thieves to steal your data.
By the end of 2015, an estimated 63 percent of cards in American wallets will feature this new technology aimed at derailing counterfeit fraud. The new chip adds a unique, one-time code that changes every time you use your card to make an in-store payment. That automatic security code change makes your data nearly impossible to use to create a counterfeit card.
Counterfeit or “cloned” cards account for about two-thirds of in-store fraud to the tune of $3 billion, according to Boston, Mass.-based research firm Aite Group.
The transition to chip cards is expected to be nearly complete by the end of 2017.
You’ll see very slight differences in using these cards. First, you’ll need to insert a chip card into a new slot on built for chip cards and keep it there until your purchase is complete. You won’t have to swipe traditional magnetic strip on the back anymore. You will still be able to sign, enter a PIN, or just pay-and-go for everyday transactions as before. Just remember to take your card with you when the transaction is complete.
However, if you are currently using an old but unexpired card, or if the business where you’re doing a transaction doesn’t have the upgraded chip card equipment, don’t panic. The strip on the back of your card will continue to work with all card terminals for the foreseeable future.
For stores, restaurants and other businesses where you use credit and debit cards, the transition to chip cards is moving along, as well. According to a recent survey by Visa, approximately 90 percent of business owners are aware of chip technology and about 70 percent have already upgraded their equipment or have plans to do so. Current estimates show that 47 percent of U.S. terminals will be able to read chip cards by the end of the year.
There’s one more incentive for all businesses to get on board with chip card technology: Starting Oct. 1, liability for some counterfeit fraud may shift from the card-issuing financial institutions to retailers unless they are able to accept and process chip card transactions.
For merchants, processing chip transactions will likely involve a hardware or software upgrade somewhat similar to upgrading a cellphone contract. In many cases, the terminal will be included in the cost of the service. About a third of merchant terminals are already chip card-capable and just need a software update to fully function.
If you travel overseas regularly, you’ve probably already seen chip card technology in action. It’s based on a global standard called EMV and is already at work in countries moving to cashless options for private and public goods and services.
One final note. While you’re waiting for your new chip cards, you’ll still be able to use your current strip-based credit cards in new machines under their zero liability fraud protection rules. However, debit card security rules are different, so it is best to check with your bank on their guidelines so you know your funds are secure.
Bottom line: The move from strip to chip cards will create a more secure environment for credit and debit card users. However, consumers will still need to keep their cards safe and confirm the accuracy of all their spending data.

Nathaniel Sillin, who wrote this article, directs Visa’s financial education programs.

Contributing Author by — November 24, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers

The 2016 Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle Feb. 17-21 will include speakers sharing their knowledge and “how-to” information in 100 hours of presentations, including 25 new speakers from throughout the U.S., Canada and United Kingdom.
The event at the Washington State Convention Center will also feature blooming gardens, diverse and unusual products offered by 350 vendors; and media personalities battling it out for their favorite charities in the Garden Wars.
The lineup of speakers and presenters will include:
• Display garden show Judges Chris Beardshaw, Tom Fischer and Brian Minter draw from their extensive knowledge on different topics in presentations at the show. Beardshaw, celebrated British designer, TV host and author, may change how you view and value plants and he’ll also show how the best gardens are those created by understanding nature’s conditions. Fischer, editor-in-chief at Timber Press and author of “Perennial Companions,” shares his learning curves with the Northwest’s huge plant choices and the exciting plant highlights exciting plant combinations that can be grown in both sunny and shady areas and gives tips on how to maintain them.
Minter, co-owner and president of Minter Country Garden in Chilliwack, B.C., shows how to reinvent the thrillers that bring the “wow” to containers and imparts his wisdom on the art of plant combination to extend the season of enjoyment.
• Linda Larson, blogger and author of “A Traveling Gardener,” celebrates the significance of trees in our world and shows us how our own gardens grow better with art. Dan Benarcik, horticulturist at Pennsylvania’s Chanticleer Garden and co-author, “The Art of Gardening: Chanticleer,” will introduce the renowned garden and its history and will share his five sound principles of design for home gardens.
• Karen Chapman, container garden designer, Le Jardinet, and co-author, “Fine Foliage,” will teach gardeners to squish with style to create professional looking and lush container gardens. The Northwest’s own Ciscoe Morris, radio and TV host, columnist and author of “Ask Ciscoe,” shares insights he has gleaned from gardens throughout the world and reveals spectacular and unusual plants that aren’t usually grown in the Pacific Northwest.
More information, including schedules and admission prices, is available at www.gardenshow.com/seminars.

srmedia by — October 13, 2015 in Personal Finance/Consumers