​You never have to think about it, but your heart works around the clock for you. Many people dealing with heart attack, stroke and heart disease are not so fortunate. Whether your life or that of someone you love has been touched by heart troubles, join us in support of heart health at the Northbay Heart Walk.
 
Join the Heart & Vascular Institute of Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital at the 2018 Northbay Heart Walk put on by the American Heart Association. This year’s event allows you the option of a one, two or four-mile non-competitive walk around beautiful Howarth Park. 
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Planning a fun-filled 4th of July isn’t hard to do in a vibrant community like ours. Whether you’re dreaming of a fun day out with the kids or a refined night of sumptuous food and drink, there are plenty of places to grab a front-row seat as the skies of Sonoma County burst out in color and light.

Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days at restaurants. When your entire family is trying to honor mom, it can be difficult enough to find a reservation for a large group, and that doesn’t take into account the expense, long wait and crowded and noisy atmosphere. Instead of taking mom out to lunch this year, why not make different plans and host a brunch for the gang. Here are six tips to help you get started. ​

There’s nothing better than tasting wine in the heart of beautiful Sonoma County. Head over to Wine Road in Healdsburg to sample the area’s greatest wines straight from the barrel. Over 100 wineries will be present and offering you their delicious creations. You can even talk to the winemakers and get a glimpse into their passion and process.

Whether your child is in middle school or high school, classes are about to begin soon. In order to ensure a productive school year, it is good to take care of a few things before heading back. As much as your kid might not be looking forward to it, it is in his or her best interest to take care of these things. 

Go to the Doctor
Your school might even mandate that your child gets checked out by a doctor before going back. This is also a good time to see what vaccinations your child needs, and California has passed laws making it mandatory for kids to have all their shots. During the summer it's also a good time to see a dentist, optometrist and anyone else so that you do not have to take your child out of class for an appointment. 

Eat Right
As a parent, you should have some responsibility in ensuring your kids are eating right. Make sure they get a healthy breakfast before going out the door. If your children eat school lunches, then look into what exactly the school is offering to ensure it is healthy. 

Manage Time
Kids in junior high or high school might have a lot more going on than just their classes. They may partake in sports or other extracurricular activities. Go over beneficial time management skills with your child before the school year starts. This involves checking to make sure your student has a planner or is keeping tabs of everything on his or her smart phone. 

In regards to going to the doctor before the school year, it is helpful to see what your health insurance plan covers. Whether you get insurance individually or through group benefits, talk to Sackett & Associates to see what we can do for you. If you would like to learn more about your insurance plan, contact us at 707-823-3689.​

There is nothing like getting out in the fresh air and heading to a fun community event. This summer, a known highlight is the famous Sonoma County Fair, which has been going strong for 80 years. This summer, visit any day (except Monday) from July 22 to August 7, and enjoy attractions, exhibits and awesome county fair food. 

From pony rides to roller coasters, fair attractions include something for everyone. With designated kiddie and family rides, the younger members of your family will have plenty to do. Get on the Big Splash water ride to beat the summer heat. 

Sign up for one of the many talent shows and contests for participants of all ages and skills. From egg hunts and animal imitation contests to community theater, you can find your creative niche. For the more competitive, there are contests in areas such as baked goods, crafting, gardening, photography and more. 

Live music is an integral part of the Sonoma County Fair, featuring headlining acts as well as local bands. Arena shows also include traditional county fair entertainment features such as a rodeo, the Destruction Derby and Monster Trucks. 

For a slower-paced day, visit the Flower Show or the Livestock Exhibition. Parents and children alike will enjoy the petting zoo and the special farm exhibit where they can learn about farm life with hands-on activities. 

The Sonoma County Fair also has plenty of opportunities to explore and practice traditional crafts such as fly tying, rug hooking and mores. Visit Mexican Village to taste Mexican street food and listen to local mariachi music acts.

We at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services would love to see all of you at this summer’s Annual Sonoma County Fair. Check out our website, subscribe to our blog or give us a call at 707-823-3689 to let us know how we can help you find the best coverage for your health and lifestyle.

Every June, the United States spends the third Sunday of the month showing dads how amazing and appreciated they are. Shopping for him can be a bit harder. Instead of buying him yet another tie, consider taking him out to do something fun for Father’s Day in Sonoma County.

Spend the Day Fishing

If your father is the type who loves to spend the day on the bank of a lake or out on the boat, consider taking him on a fishing trip. Purchase a brand new rod and reel and some bait as a gift, pack a picnic lunch of his favorite foods and see what’s biting. For something a little more unique and even a bit luxurious, consider reserving a couple of spots on a fishing charter for the day.

Have a Movie Night

Maybe your dad is the type who prefers indoor activities. Why not have a movie night? Let him choose a movie or two and buy or make all of his favorite movie snacks. Make the evening more memorable by having a conversation about what you liked and didn’t like about the movie afterwards. A movie night is also a good way for smaller children to spend time with Dad on his special day.

Build Something Together

Nothing feels quite as amazing as building something with your dad. This versatile activity allows dad and kids—or the whole family—to spend the day together. If he likes woodworking, you could build a playhouse, a boat or something totally unique. You might also choose model planes or completing a large jigsaw puzzle. If Dad still has younger children, Legos or of building sandcastles at the beach are age-appropriate.

One thing you don’t want to do on Father’s Day in Sonoma County is worry. Whether staying at home or spending the day outdoors, accidents can happen. Give your father the gift of peace of mind by ensuring the entire family has the health and life insurance coverage it needs. Learn more by following Sackett Insurance on social media or by giving us a call.​

Celebrate Springtime In Sonoma County
It's almost time for Easter, which means local events are started to spring up. Sonoma has a beautiful community that is home to a variety of events during these next few months. Check these local Easter events in Sonoma County. Mark your calendar to make sure you don't miss out!

Egg Hunt for Toddlers
Do you have a little toddler running around? What better way to celebrate Easter with them than bringing them to this fun Spring Egg Hunt for Tots on Saturday, March 26th? Your children will have a blast searching for eggs, petting cute farm animals, making festive crafts, and getting their picture taken with the Easter Bunny. This event is held at Howarth Park Softball Field in Santa Rosa. Here are the details:

• Cost: $8 per child
• Ages 3 years and under: Egg hunts at 10:00am and 10:45am
• Ages 4 and 5: Egg hunt at 11:30am
• Address: 630 Summerfield Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95405

An Elegant Easter Brunch 
On Easter Sunday, March 17th, John Ash and Co. are hosting brunch for you and your family to enjoy. Take some time to celebrate the wonderful holiday by enjoying various food options including French toast, eggs benedict, or chicken and waffles. More details are below.

• Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
• Starters: $11 to $18
• Main Course: $16 to $29
• Address: 4330 Barnes Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Wine Tasting in Geyseryville
Francis Ford Coppola Winery is proud to offer daily wine tasting for you to enjoy. You can bask in the beautiful facility and its enchanting gardens of this sophisticated local winery. Here's all you need to know:

• Tasting cost: $5 to $8
• Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel
• Hours: 11am to 5pm daily
• Address: 300 Via Archimedes, Geyserville, CA 95441

All of us here at Sackett Insurance Services, providing health insurance solutions to Santa Rosa and surrounding areas, invite you and your loved ones to come out and enjoy these events taking place right here in your local community. For more information on our services, call us at (707) 823-3689. You can also keep up with us on our Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and blog.

For most children, Halloween in one of the best nights of the year. Kids get to go all out in full costume, roam the neighborhood with their friends, and receive free candy and treats, so who can blame them? However, with easy access to more candy, children are facing the most amount of cavities in over 40 years. In addition, the obesity rate is triple what it was a generation ago. 

On the night of Halloween, the average child eats between 3,500 to 7,000 calories worth of treats, with many sweets left over to last a week worth of calories! Although, experts in healthcare say that there is nothing wrong will allowing your child to eat some candy on Halloween night, as long as the rest of the year is generally spent clean eating.  

Ensure that this Halloween is not a dentist or doctor nightmare:

• Fill up before heading out
  If you provide a meal or a filling snack for your children before trick-or-treating, they will eat fewer pieces of candy during the night. 
• Hand out healthy treats
  Non-sugary foods can still be fun! Why not hand out cheese and crackers, pretzels, apples as a treat!
• Walk and tour
  Encourage your children to walk from house to house instead of driving them!
• Give away extra candy
  Consider donating a pile of collected candy to a local senior citizens home, food pantry, or a children’s hospital to show a sign of good faith and reduce the temptation of sugary snacking. 

This Halloween night, be sure to take precautions in protecting your child’s health and teach them a valuable lesson of giving. Contact Sackett & Associates Insurance Services, serving Sebastopal and surrounding areas in California, to provide your family with the health insurance that you deserve. 

Are you ready for the 2015 Sonoma County Fair? The fair starts on July 24th and runs until August 9th, giving you plenty of time to enjoy all that the event has to offer this summer! The gates open at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday, so make sure to mark your calendar!

There are plenty of events that are going on during the two weeks of the fair, including a giant carnival, the largest floral display on the west coast in the Hall of Flowers, live entertainment, incredible displays of agricultural and livestock education, fun contests, and much more! The 79th annual fair is not an event that you will want to miss out on.

Back for another year, The Jockey Club will be at the fair for everyone to experience the best horse racing around the world. On both dirt and turf tracks, pick your favorite pony and watch the races! You also have the option to rent out the facility for your own special event.

If you are coming from out of the area, you can rest easy at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds RV Park that is within walking distance of the fair. You will also be very close to the Jockey Club, as well as the Fairground Golf Course if you want to hit a couple rounds of golf!

All of us at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services in Sonoma County, California would like to invite you and your family out to enjoy the 79th Annual Sonoma County Fair this summer! 

Your Guide To Implementing A Healthy Lifestyle

March does not just symbolize the kick-off of a new season for the earth; it can also mark a fresh start for your body. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has declared March as National Nutrition Month, making it a great time to begin or continue to make healthy choices. 

At mealtime and snack time, remember that the food that you put into your body is the fuel on which it runs. Would you pour bad quality gasoline into your car? Probably not. Yet, when it comes to the food we eat many of us consume what we know is not good for us. This month, make a conscious effort to evaluate every bite you take for the way it will nourish your body or inhibit it.

Complement healthy eating with regular physical activity. Try working in exercise, even just a 15-minute walk into your lunch break. Those short periods of activity will add up to yield overall improvement in your health. To really get moving, consider signing up for a 5k run/walk and train for it with your family and friends. 

Remember to boost the health benefits of your physical exercise by fueling your body before and after. Opt for fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains. Make sure you get enough protein each day and that you drink plenty of water. Not sure how much to drink? Divide your weight in half. That is the number of ounces you should consume each day. 

The hard work you put into leading a healthy lifestyle deserves to be supplemented by great health insurance. To get the health care coverage you need to truly care for your body, contact Sackett & Associates Insurance Services today. We serve Sonoma County and are here to help you get the protection your body needs.  

While you may think that the stores are full of red hearts for Valentine’s Day, February gives you another reason to celebrate your heart – American Heart Month. American Heart Month is celebrated in February as a way to bring attention to heart disease and remind people of simple ways that they can keep their heart healthy.

Heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. It is also one of the leading causes of disability, which prevents many Americans from enjoying time with their family and friends. Knowing how to prevent heart disease can help to ensure that you are able to enjoy a life full of fun and excitement. Keep these healthy heart tips in mind to keep your ticker working its best. 

• Work with your doctor – get a regular checkup at least once a year, even if you feel completely fine. Your doctor can check for any issues that can increase your risk of heart disease.
• Keep an eye on your blood pressure – there are often no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, which means you may be suffering from it without even knowing.
• Make healthy choices – healthy meal choices can help you stay healthy and avoid heart disease. Pack your plate full of fruits and vegetables and limit your sodium intake as much as possible. 
• Exercise regularly – regular physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your cholesterol and blood pressure low. You do not have to spend hundreds of dollars on the gym to get your exercise in. Small changes like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can be enough to get your heart pumping. 

For all your Sonoma County health insurance needs and to ensure that you stay healthy, contact the insurance professionals at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services.

Located in the beautiful town of Sebastopol, right in your neighborhood, this is a 9-hole executive golf course. Offering a lake at the 7-hole, there are several bunkers, undulating fairways, and 2,992 yards of golf experience. If you want to play a round of golf in fewer than three hours, the Sebastopol Golf Course is perfect even for a beginner. The scenic Sonoma County Coastline is only 20 minutes from the course and Downtown Santa Rose is only 15 minutes away.

Many of the players at the course boast how warm and friendly each person they encounter is. Moreover, the course is always well-groomed and the fairways and greens are always in great shape. The other thing that guests like about this course is that the staff is extremely friendly and will help accommodate all guests.

Not only is this a fun spot to play a round, guests typically don’t need a driver or a set of clubs because the course often provides them. Furthermore, guests at the club will quickly see how affordable the course is. A bonus: the course is often changed to provide variety.

For more information on attractions in and around Sebastopol, contact Sackett & Associates.

By Sackett Insurance Blogging Team
Sackett & Associates would like to invite people from all over Sonoma County to stop by the Sebastopol Farm Market any Sunday from 10 am – 1:30 pm. The Farm Market is hosted in the Sebastopol Plaza and runs all year long.

The benefit of buying produce, eggs, cheese, and regional fruits from the Farm Market is the boost in nutrition. Healthy food makes healthy bodies, and we certainly are what we eat. There is a positive green element that also happens when we buy local. Supporting local business is healthy for our community and for the environment.

As an insurance agency with over 30 years of local service, Sackett & Associates likes the idea of supporting local businesses and people. We also feel like supporting the local Farm Market is an investment in people’s health, happiness, and quality of life. If you have not visited the Sebastopol Farm Market, then we certainly encourage you to do so. The variety is amazing, and the quality is outstanding.

With over 30 years of services to our local community, Sackett & Associates understands the local needs of our community. If you have questions about insurance, please contact Sackett & Associates. We are happy to answer all of your insurance questions.