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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, January 6, 2009 Planner offers economic wisdom for 2009 By Kristi O'Harran, Herald Columnist Let's ask an award-winning financial planner about handling our money in 2009. Country Financial representative Gary Owens of Sultan recently became a Life Underwriter Training Council fellow. "What do I expect for 2009?" Owens says. "That's a huge question." He says folks are returning to the basics, saving first, then spending. He says to expect insurers to increase rates as the cost of claims rises. Owens says he's advising clients to check policies, and consider saving money with higher deductibles or perhaps removing collision and comprehensive coverage from older vehicles. "With those savings, I'm advising them to pay down debt, save and plan for the future," he says. Owens and his wife, Kathy, have three children: Cortney, Brenna and Kayla. He works in the Snohomish office. Why would anyone write about Christmas carols the first week of the new year? Because folks will have one more chance to bellow "Oh, Holy Night" in public. Due to all the snow that blocked roads before Christmas, many events were cancelled. St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Marysville offers a last-chance singalong to meet needs of the vocally unfulfilled. Rev. Mary Allen says all who missed their fix of Christmas carols and candles may show up at 6:30 tonight at 4312 84th St. NE. The program is called "Epiphany, The Twelfth Night of Christmas." Allen says there will be king's cake (for the Three Kings), hot cider and burning of the greens to finally end the Christmas season. It seems odd that Snohomish will celebrate it's 150th anniversary by going to Everett. Then again, they need to pick up official paperwork from the county seat. Jeff Gilpin, president of the Snohomish 150th Anniversary, invites all to meet at noon Friday on the railroad tracks between the Snohomish Senior Center and the Snohomish Library. There will be a nine-gun black powder salute and bell and horn ringing. A procession to the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett follows, re-enacting the taking of county records to Everett. About 1890, a fight arose between Snohomish and Everett over the location of the county seat. Seven years later, 37 wagonloads of court records were moved from Snohomish to the new courthouse in Everett. "We ask everyone to join us as we ceremoniously ask the city of Everett and Snohomish County to return the county seat and records to its namesake and rightful owner -- Snohomish," Gilpin says. "In a mock demand we will ask for and accept the digital county records for safe keeping in Snohomish." Linda Paz, executive director of Matthew House in Monroe, says a special family saved Christmas. Matthew House supports families of men incarcerated at the Monroe Correctional Complex. With the heavy snow, it looked like they wouldn't get gifts and food delivered to needy families. The miracle came from David and Elizabeth Wilson of Snoho­mish, and their children, David, 13, Andrew, 10, Evan, 5, and foster children Dakota, 11, and Steffen, 6. They braved the icy roads to deliver gifts and food to families from Seattle to Everett. "The amazing thing was that because they were out of work, they decided to not have gifts for their own children," Paz says. "I offered them gifts." Elizabeth Wilson chose not to accept any presents, opting to teach children that Christmas is about what you give. Columnist Kristi O'Harran: 425-339-3451 or oharran@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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