A Family Affair at Erickson Dental Care

When it comes to family-operated businesses, it's hard to beat Erickson Dental Care, located at 1224 NE 7th St in Grants Pass. Dr. Mart Erickson opened his practice in 1979 and moved into his current location on the day his son Sten was born in 1984. Sten grew up in the practice all his life, cleaning the office and doing the outdoor landscaping as a kid.

Sten was valedictorian when he graduated from Grants Pass High School in 2003 and went off to college and dental school, where he met his wife, Rachel, also a dental student. After getting married, Sten and Rachel moved back to Grants Pass and joined Mart in the practice. Mart's wife Linn also works in the office as a dental hygienist.

Pet Care and Comfort at Home Away from Home

When it comes down to it, owning a pet is almost like having a child. When you want to go on vacation, you just can't take Foofoo with you to the condo in Cabo san Lucas. And you can't leave him at home. It's necessary to find a babysitter or make some other kind of arrangement, and it can be a major hassle.
Which is where Home Away from Home Pet Spa, located at 100 NE Mill Street, comes in handy. Owner Sandra Mazurek has a passion for the care and training of dogs and cats and expresses this passion in her business.

Action Hair Designs Celebrates 37 Years

It’s been a long and winding road the last 37 years for Linda Whalen, owner of Action Hair Designs at 937-A NE D Street (in back of the Grants Pass Shopping Center). “I first walked through Action Hair Designs as one of its first employees in 1977,” Linda said. “When the original owner moved in 1990, I bought the salon.”
Linda moved to the Rogue Valley in 1960 with her family when her dad retired from the Marine Corps and moved here.
“I was 13 at the time, and as a teen it seems I was ‘in charge’ of my mom’s, sister’s, grandmother’s and any other family member’s hair who came through the kitchen door,” she said. “It only seemed natural that after graduating from Grants Pass High that I would start my training in a new beauty school that had just opened its doors in Grants Pass.”

Great Deals at Affordable Home Furnishings

In these trying economic times, any retail business with the name "affordable" in it is playing it smart. And at Affordable Home Furnishings (2185 Spalding Avenue), owner Robby Salazer makes sure that his customers get the best deal possible.
"Our goal is to help our customers find the best furniture or mattress at the best possible price," Robby said. "We are a full-line furniture store carrying Ashley, Coaster and Corsicana, and we are the only authorized Spring Air mattress dealer in southern Oregon. And it would be real hard to beat our prices."
Robby has lived in the Rogue Valley his entire life and graduated from North Valley High School. Sales manager Nik Martin was also born and raised in the Rogue Valley and also attended NVHS.
"I have been in the furniture business for over eight years," Robby said.

Yoga and More at Sundance Healing Arts

One of the keystones of good health is exercise, and at Sundance Healing Arts (220 SE H), owner Sarah Walendy offers many paths for participants to improve mind, body, and spirit.
"I felt discouraged by the disconnect often seen in traditional gym settings, where the focus of fitness and dance is aesthetics," Sarah said. "The concept of pushing through pain to get result seemed dysfunctional."
Movement has been a source of light for Sarah throughout her life. She studied ballet at an early age and adulthood.
"Moving into fitness was an easy transition for me, and Pilates connected all the dots of postural wellness and optimal kinesthetic function," she said. "But after teaching Pilates in a gym environment for a long time, I began to realize there is more to fitness than well-toned muscles. I shifted my focus to mind and body."