Timber Ridge Chiropractic owner is hands-on with Everett’s business scene
By George Berkheimer
“We’re a family-centered practice, which means we see the very young to the very old,” said owner Kaci Batzel, who operates the clinic with the help of a receptionist and a collocated Care Lab Services laboratory that processes private and physician-prescribed bloodwork testing, giving patients access to more independence in their healthcare choices. “We take care of people with active issues, but nearly 75% of the patients I see are on a maintenance routine, which allows us to get to know our patients like family.” Regarding her patients’ age range, it may surprise some people that even newborns sometimes need chiropractic services, she said. “The youngest I’ve seen is a day or two old,” she said. “The stress of birth can cause issues down the road if it results in a problem that is left unchecked.” Batzel is also the only practitioner in a 50-mile radius certified in the Webster Technique, an adjustment that helps pregnant women prepare for birth. “It tends to shorten labor and delivery times by 24%, helps with recovery, and also helps mothers who are having issues with a breech baby,” she explained. “We can help ensure that the little one has enough room to turn on its own to help avoid C-sections and other complications.”
Community improvement
Batzel currently serves as president of the Everett Area Better Business Association. The organization focuses on improving the town’s business atmosphere and is working to attain Everett’s designation as a Main Street Community through Main Street America, which provides programming, resources, and networking for its members. The EABBA also organizes popular events that include the Home for Christmas celebration and the resurrected Bloody Run Canoe and Kayak Classic. “When I started my practice there were a lot of empty storefronts,” Batzel said. “Today we have one vacancy, and potential businesses are inquiring about it. There’s so much momentum, it’s a cool time to be a part of it.” “From small boutiques and hair salons to clinics, good places to eat, a gym, an eye doctor and even a licensed psychologist, Everett boasts a wide spectrum of businesses,” Batzel said. “Our business association has more than 100 active members,” she said. “That’s a lot for a small community.” Batzel also serves as vice chair of Reimagine Everett, whose goal is to try to revitalize the town and make it an even more appealing place to visit and live. The first project the group has undertaken is the restoration of the historic Everett Theatre on Main Street, which first opened in 1923. “We anticipate some major funding that will help us get operational in the next phase of work,” Batzel noted. Plans call for retaining the traditional fixed wooden-backed theatre seating upstairs and adding some office spaces, while downstairs space is envisioned as a multi-use facility with removable seating to accommodate parties, wedding receptions and banquets. “A built-out back section could also allow us to run plays with ample room for a stage prep area,” Batzel said. Part of the project will include the installation of a full caterer’s kitchen and a bar area. “The new facility is designed to be self-sustaining,” she explained. “The goal is to parlay monies coming in back into the town for future projects or funding salaries for a Main Street Manager or other paid positions.”
Community and convenience
Batzel grew up in Bedford County and pursued her doctorate degree in Iowa. She considered other small towns and cities in Pennsylvania for her practice, but always knew she wanted to come home.“ Everett has a lot of charm and felt like the best place for me and the best fit,” she said. “The sense of community is a big thing; you still find neighbors who are willing to pitch in and help when there is a need. It’s a river town with access to state and public land for camping, hunting, kayaking, and fishing. The convenience of town and easy access to local outdoor recreation is a nice mix for me.”