County Communicator 12/23/22 Edition

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S

U p c o m i n g U p c o m i n g E v e n t s

SkiiingwithSanta Join Santa on the slopes at Crystal Mountain! He'll be getting a little skiing in before his big trip tonight and would love to have you join him! For more info, please click here.

Wines We invite you to experience Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay in its winter splendor! There are several snowshoe trails available for all ages and experience levels to explore before you warm up with chili and other hearty fare, hot mulled wine and hot chocolate on our outdoor heated terrace We'll be set up for snowshoe rental as well - or bring your own! The event is weather-dependent, and no reservations are needed

TheHauntingofEbenezeratBonobo Winery

An acoustic concert retelling of Dickens' classic tale. These sixteen original Americana songs guide a listener through Ebenezer Scrooge's haunting and transformation The lively band, playing folk instruments and singing in harmony, embraces the ghosts and regrets, the love and joy that has made "A Christmas Carol" such a beloved and enduring holiday tradition. The Haunting of Ebenezer is part concert, part musical theatre, and all holiday cheer!

If you can’t make it to Times Square to witness the Ball Drop, the CherryT Ball Drop is the next best thing! We may be partial, but we believe it’s just as sweet! The large cherry drops from the sky as we ring in the New Year at Park and Front Streets The gates open at 10:00 PM and the event ends at 12:20 AM

THE COUNTY UPDATES

NEW HIRES

WELCOME TO THE COUNTY TEAM!

KATHRYN GAUNT PUBLIC HEALTH TECH JILLIAN O'DONNELL PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE II

MICHAEL COYNE CORRECTIONAL

OFFICER

CLOSURES

HOLIDAY CLOSURES

Have you checked out GTCU? County employees now have access to a wide variety of training materials for onboarding, Microsoft 365 and myGTC. GTCU is housed in SharePoint, and can be accessed here. Your login will be the same as your Outlook email login and password Other ways to access SharePoint:

VIDEO TUTORIAL ON FLIPBOOK

Many people have had an issue with the size of the font within the flipbook version of the County Communicator. However, there are multiple ways to enlarge the format for better readability. Watch video below to learn how to maneuver within the flipbook.

Watch a video tutorial on how to use the flipbook version of the County Communicator.

myGTC UPDATE

NEW TO GIS

GIS has new aerial imagery now available on our tax parcel viewer! The imagery was obtained towards the end of April 2022. Our parcel viewer now has the capability to compare our 2016 and 2022 Imagery using the swipe tool Come over to our site to check it out here!

VIEW THE ARPA APPLICATIONS

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) applications are complete. To view the ARPA applications from the Grand Traverse County community, click here.

COUNTY UPDATES

PARKS AND REC UPDATES: YMCA AT HOWE ARENA

During the holiday break, we would like to remind you of some recreation opportunities available during this time. The YMCA will continue operating under regular hours, with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas. For information on Howe Arena click here for their schedule.

PARKS AND REC UPDATES: GT CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Grand Traverse Conservation District is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications from aspiring and beginning farmers for our newest program, the Great Lakes Incubator Farm, located at the historic Meyer Farm property in Traverse City, MI!

Beginning in March 2023, this three-year program will provide participants with business development services and agricultural management, mentoring, and training with the goal of transitioning farmers to an independent resilient, and successful farm operation upon completion of the program It is preferred that the applicant resides in the fivecounty region (Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Antrim) and has at least one growing season of experience. However, those with any level of agricultural experience are welcome to apply Interested applicants should visit www natureiscalling org/glif to learn more about the program/enrollment fees and to submit their application

Please share this post and help us spread the word!

COUNTY UPDATES

GTC SAYS GOODBYE TO 3 COMMISSIONERS

At the most recent Board of Commissioner's meeting, it was the last for three of our commissioners Commissioner Ron Clous, Commissioner Betsy Coffia, and Commissioner Bryce Hundley, spent their last Commission meeting making critical decisions on how to spend the GT County's ARPA funds As with all meetings, the Commissioners took on the challenge of spending these funds appropriately and in the best interest of this county I would like to thank these Commissioners as I have seen their passion for service to this county firsthand So many great things have occurred within GT County while these Commissioners were seated to bring GT County to where we are Thank you all for your service and support to our county! Nate Alger, GT County Administrator

HR: NATIONWIDE VISITS

If you are a Nationwide participant and have not heard the news, Chris Minkin has moved on from Nationwide The new Nationwide Specialist, Angia McGeorge will be at the following locations with the dates and times listed below, weather permitting If you would like to schedule a time to meet with Angia, please click on the link: https://bit ly/GrandTraverseCo457b The attached flyer provides Angia’s email and other information

Health Department – Admin Conference Room (1 p m – 4 p m )

Governmental Center – Conference Room 301 (9 a m – 12 p m )

Sheriff’s Office LEC – Lower-Level Training Room (1 p m – 4 p m )

COUNTY UPDATES

SWEARING IN CEREMONY - SAVE THE DATE!

Save-the-Date! The 13th Circuit Court Administrator's Office will be holding a swearing-in ceremony for Hon. Charles M. Hamlyn on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 4pm in Courtroom 3 at the red Historic Courthouse.

COUNTY UPDATES UPDATES

HON. THOMAS G. POWER RETIRMENT

Hon. Thomas G. Power retires on December 31, 2022, after 30 years on the bench. Happy Retirement, Judge Power!

WELLNESS

FEEL, THINK, LIVE, BE... WELL!

SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD): MORE THAN THE WINTER BLUES

For help finding treatment, visit NIMH’s Help for Mental Illnesses webpage.

If you or someone you know is in immediate distress or is thinking about hurting themselves, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline org Click here for more information.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

BEEFWELLINGTON-GORDONRAMSAYRECIPE!

2 -3lbs filet of beef

3tablespoons olive oil

1cup chestnut mushrooms, include some wild ones if you like

3 ⁄tablespoons butter

1large sprigs fresh thyme

3 ⁄ounces dry white wine

12slices prosciutto or 12 slices bacon

1lb puff pastry, thawed 1handful flour, to dust 2egg yolks beaten with 1 tsp water

Directions 1 2.

Heat oven to 392°F Place the beef on a roasting tray, brush with 1 tbsp olive oil and season with pepper, then roast for 15 mins for medium-rare or 20 mins for medium When the beef is cooked to your liking, remove from the oven to cool, then chill in the fridge for about 20 minutes

While the beef is cooling, chop the mushrooms as finely as possible so they have the texture of coarse breadcrumbs You can use a food processor to do this, but make sure you pulse-chop the mushrooms so they don't turn into mush.

Heat 2 tbsp of the oil and all the butter in a large pan and fry the mushrooms on a medium heat, with the thyme sprig, for about 10 mins stirring often, until you have a softened mixture. Season the mushroom mixture, pour over the wine and cook for about 10 mins until all the wine has been absorbed The mixture should hold its shape when stirred Remove the mushroom mixture from the pan to cool and discard the thyme.

Overlap two pieces of plastic wrap over a large chopping board Lay the prosciutto on the plastic wrap, slightly overlapping, in a double row Spread half the mushroom mixture over the prosciutto, then sit the fillet on it and spread the remaining mushroom mixture over it Use the plastic wrap edges to draw the prosciutto around the fillet, then roll it into a sausage shape, twisting the ends of plastic wrap to tighten it as you go. Chill the fillet while you roll out the pastry

Roll out a third of the pastry to a 7 x 12in strip and place on a non-stick baking sheet. Roll out the remaining pastry to about 11 x 14in. Unravel the fillet from the plastic wrap and place it in the center of the smaller strip of pastry and brush the pastry's edges, and the top and sides of the wrapped fillet, with beaten egg yolk. Using a rolling pin, carefully lift and drape the larger piece of pastry over the fillet, pressing well into the sides Trim the edges to about a 1 5in rim Seal the rim with the edge of a fork or spoon handle. Glaze all over with more egg yolk and, using the back of a knife, mark the beef Wellington with long diagonal lines taking care not to cut into the pastry Chill for at least 30 mins and up to 24 hours Heat oven to 392°F Brush the Wellington with a little more egg yolk and cook until golden and crisp - 20-25 mins for medium-rare beef, 30 mins for medium Allow to stand for 10 mins before serving in thick slices