County Communicator 9/16/22 Edition

COUNTY COMMUNICATOR

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

9/11 NEVER FORGET

ON 9/11 WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES, THOSE WHO STEPPED UP TO SERVE, AND THE COUNTLESS SACRIFICES MADE IN THE DAYS, MONTHS, AND YEARS AFTER THE ATTACKS.

SEPTEMBER 2022 SUNDAY

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Payday County Communicator

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Coffee with a Cop

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9:00 - 10:30 am GT Pie Co. 525 W Front St

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myGTC training for STAFF

myGTC training for STAFF

myGTC training for STAFF

1:30 pm

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myGTC training for MANAGERS

myGTC training for MANAGERS

myGTC training for MANAGERS

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Payday County Communicator

Aster is the primary birth flower for those born in September.

The flower was named after Astraea, the Greek goddess who ascended to heaven and formed the constellation, Virgo. So it shouldn’t be surprising that Aster is also a birth flower for Virgo the zodiac sign. Legend says that when Astraea wept for humanity, her tears fell on earth and bloomed as the aster flowers.

Upcoming

Events

Events In & Around Grand Traverse County The Muffin Ride

September Parking lot behind Subway off M22 in

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Greilickville @ 9 am - 12 pm.

Join the Cherry Capital Cycle Club every Friday at 9 a.m. for the Muffin Ride to Suttons Bay and back from the parking lot in Greilickville behind the Subway shop on M-22. The ride includes a coffee and bakery stop and continues through October.

Great Lakes Strongest Man

September Turtle Creek Casino @ 10 am - 4 pm.

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Five Events for USS WORLDS and Five Different Events for Great Lakes Strongest Man! Great Lakes Strongest Man competitors qualify for United States Strongman Nationals 2023. $10 general admission.

Wood boats on the wall - Leelanau Maritime History Festival

September Leelanau Historial Society Museum

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@ 10 am - 3pm Run distances are based on the children’s age and interest. Fun Run offers young athletes the opportunity to feel the excitement of “competition”, without the pressure of a competitive race.

Detroit Red Wings Training Camp

September Centre Ice Arena, Sept. 22-Sept. 26

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Red Wings players, prospects and tryouts will be divided into teams that will practice and scrimmage throughout the Camp, including the Annual Red and White Game scheduled for Sunday, September 25.

TC GermanFest

September Trinity Lutheran Church & School

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@ 6 - 10:30 pm.

Celebrate all things Bavarian! Great food, a live band, beer and wine -- all under the big tent at Trinity Lutheran's 10th Annual Germanfest! For all the details, please click here.

Free Admissions at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

September Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

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The Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore will be waiving the $25 entrance fee today. Enjoy the wonders of the only National Park in lower Michigan. It's a beautiful way to experience late autumn in Michigan with miles of trails and sweeping views of the dunes and Lake Michigan.

Up North Pride Week Sept. 28 - Oct. 2

September Pride Ride & Sign making - Sept. 28 Traverse City’s official LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration and

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Michigan’s Premier Destination Pride event is returning. Pride ride and sign making party starts o September 28th @ F&M park from 6 - 9 pm

Pride Comedy Night - Sept. 30 Comedy night takes place at the City Opera House from 8 - 9:30pm.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

THE COUNTY UPDATES

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION FOR FUTURE COUNTY COMMUNICATORS: EMAIL HANNAH DUELL

NEW HIRES WELCOME TO THE COUNTY TEAM!

KATE STEVENS SOCIAL WORKER HEALTH DEPARTMENT

BETH JOHNS LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE COMMISSION ON AGING

ANNIVERSARIES JENNIFER

ALBRECHT

09/20/2021

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MORGAN

DUMOND

09/20/2021

1

MACY

HENRY

09/20/2021

1

GEORGE

PRESTON

09/20/2021

1

LINDSEY

JACOBS

09/23/2020

2

CAROL

ROSE

09/11/2000

2

ALEXANDER

CHRISTENSEN

09/16/2019

3

TY

CURTIS

09/03/2019

3

CRAIG

FLEES

09/09/2019

3

JEANNIE

BINSFELD

09/13/2018

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STEVEN

GREENMAN

09/19/2018

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KARIE

MCINTYRE

09/11/2018

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JACALYN

MONEY-BRUNO

09/25/2017

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ADAM

PARENT

09/18/2017

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AMANDA

PECK

09/18/2017

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JODI

THAYER

09/20/2017

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CHRIS

WHETSTONE

09/20/2017

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SPENCER

BISHOP

09/06/2016

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KELLEY

PLAMBECK

09/26/2016

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SCOTT

RADEMAKER

09/26/2016

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NATHAN

ROBERTS

09/07/2016

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RACHEL

SCHLEENBAKER

09/12/2016

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KYLER

ROSIN

09/23/2015

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AMY

BROCK

09/15/2014

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NORMA

SANDELIUS

09/22/2014

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AMY

TULPA

09/03/2013

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JIM

BAKER

09/11/2012

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LAURIE

JOHNSTON

09/04/2012

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CHRIS

ROBERTS

09/05/2012

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SHEILA

CORNER

09/14/2009

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JONATHAN

MORGAN

09/16/2009

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LISA

PHILO

09/02/2008

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JOSH

KNISS

09/12/2005

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MIKE

MATTEUCCI

09/06/2005

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SARAH

BAKER

09/30/2002

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ALISA

GALLO

09/05/2000

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CINDY

SCHAUB

09/26/2000

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DAVE

BAUER

09/30/1998

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MARCIA

CARMONEY

09/16/1997

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CHRIS

CLARK

09/13/1995

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HOLLY

MILLER

09/08/1992

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COUNTY UPDATES

myGTC

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myGTC UPDATE - TRAINING myGTC (the modern ERP system being developed by workday) goes live on October 31stl! The journey has been long and thanks to a team of dedicated Human Resources, Finance, Treasury, and Administration staff, it has been made possible.

A reminder that myGTC training for staff is mandatory.

For those that have not yet signed up for the mandatory training, there are 3 final classes available.

There is also an additional managers training that has been added.

Staff Training here.

Managers Register here.

FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH MYGTC A reminder to those that have gone to myGTC training, that your login information is: Username : Email Address Password: Summer@2022

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY UNIVERSITY 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.

To access myGTC home screen and continue to familiarize yourself with myGTC click here.

Other ways to access SharePoint: 1. Browser Outlook(Email) 2. Desktop Outlook (Email)

OPEN ENROLLMENT COMING SOON!

Watch a tutorial on how to access SharePoint here.

Open Enrollment is coming soon! Mark your calendars for November 14- 27 to claim your benefits. Open enrollment will now be accessed through myGTC. More information will be provided.

COUNTY UPDATES

UPDATES

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CANDIDATE FORUM Traverse Connect is hosting a Candidate Forum on October 10th from 4-7:00pm at the Hagerty Center. Candidates include: Barba Conley, Rep. John Damoose, Commissioner Betsy Coffia, Rep. Jack O'malley, Cathy Albro, Rep. John Roth. For more information click here.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MONTH September is National Emergency Preparedness Month. Visit the Grand Traverse County Emergency Management preparedness pages to stay up to date and be prepared. Click here.

WEDDING BLISS Congratulations to the newly Mrs. Hannah Duell (formerly known as Hannah Stachnik) on her wedding to Jake Duell. Hannah Stachnik married Jake Duell at Bay view Weddings last Friday, September 9th.

TART TRAILS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION PARTY! Grand Traverse County was honored on September 12th at the TART's Volunteer Appreciated Party for the TART's Government Partner of the Year award, the Boardman Lake Loop Leadership team: The City of Traverse City, Garfield Township, and Grand Traverse County.

SENIOR CENTER BUILDING UPDATE Today, September 16th from 1 - 2 pm Mayor Lewis with Architect Ray Kendra and Senior Center Manager Michelle Krumm will be at the Traverse City Senior Center location ( 801 E. Front St.) providing updates on the new building and its design plans. They will also be available to answer questions and obtain feedback from the community. This is a community event and people of all ages are welcome to attend.

COUNTY UPDATES

UPDATES

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DID YOU KNOW? -DEPENDENT CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA) Grand Traverse County offers A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. This account is a pre-tax account funded through employee-elected payroll deductions to pay for dependent care expenses. To qualify, dependent care must be essential for you and your spouse to work, look for work, or attend school full time.

How a Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA) Works 1. With a DCFSA, you are able to make pre-tax payroll contributions to pay for dependent care expenses.

2. Determine the amount you would like to contribute for the year. The maximum annual DCFSA election allowed is $5,000 per household. Any expenses exceeding $5,000 can be claimed on your income tax filing.

3. Your annual DCFSA funds are not available upfront. Funds are only accessible as they are deposited with each payroll deduction.

4. Pay dependent care costs out-of-pocket. Submit expenses for reimbursement either through the HealthEquity member portal or by using the DCFSA Reimbursement form. Recurring DCFSA claims can be scheduled for the duration of the plan year.

5. If you do not use all your DCFSA elections within the year, you have a 2.5-month grace period that allows you to incur additional dependent care expenses for reimbursement. All reimbursements for expenses incurred in the current plan year and during the grace period must be submitted for reimbursement no later than 90 days after the end of the plan year. The plan year runs January through December. Remember: if you don’t use it, you lose it!

6. You are locked into your election unless you experience a change in dependent care status.

Qualified Dependents Children under the age of 13 A spouse who is physically or mentally unable to care for him/herself Any adult you can claim as a dependent on your tax return that is physically or mentally unable to care for him/herself Eligible Expenses Include Babysitting inside or outside household Day camps Custodial childcare or eldercare expenses Before and after school or extended day programs Daycare centers and nanny expenses Etc.

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

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W E L WELLNESS LNESS

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

REDUCING ANXIETY Challenging times and life's stressors can cause nervousness, tension and worry. These are just a few symptoms of anxiety that affect your emotional wellbeing. Anxiety is the mind and body’s reaction to stressful and unfamiliar situations. If you or someone you know deals with anxiety, it’s important to recognize and treat symptoms so that you can continue feeling your best. Read on to discover the different tools you can use to reduce symptoms.

Participate in meditation. Meditation was said to have originated thousands of years ago to bring harmony to your mind and body. It can help you calm your senses and focus on the present moment. Only spending a few minutes meditating each day can reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Explore mental health tools. Mental health tools such as apps, blogs and podcasts are excellent ways to help you throughout the day or to boost your general mental health education. Whenever you’re feeling down, you can turn to one of these for a quick mood boost and helpful tips. Consider exploring the Wellbeing Place Blog or one of your program’s flash courses for more ways to reduce anxiety, guided meditations, healthy living tips and more.

Seek support. Did you know that anxiety disorders affect 18 percent of the human population, making it the most common mental illness? Seeking support by reaching out to a mental health professional can reduce stress and anxiety and help you feel less alone.

Keep a journal. If you’d rather write your thoughts and feelings in a notebook or type them on a computer, consider journaling. Writing or typing your thoughts and worries can help you see the bigger picture and assess what changes you might want to make. Journaling can also be a calming form of self-care to ease your mind and distract from stressors.

Having a better understanding of anxiety and identifying your triggers can help reduce worry and fear.

For support with anxiety and other mental health concerns, reach out to a mental health professional.

WELLNESS

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

TAKE THE AFFINITY GROUPS SURVEY! Have you ever heard of an affinity group? Affinity Group by definition means a group of people linked by a common interest or purpose.

The purpose of this survey is to gather information on activities that like-minded people want to be a part of. From there, a group can be created to allow for communication on the next steps, whether that is for introductions or to set a time to meet for the activity.

The affinity groups will be self-organizing and Grand Traverse County will have no affiliation with the groups. Grand Traverse County is merely a means to connect people.

An initial email group will be created for the groups to introduce members.

Affinity groups are open to all employees and employees are encouraged to link up with people with the same interest or interested in learning a new activity.

In the survey, it will ask you to provide your name, and email and select which activity you participate in, and will also leave an "other" option for an activity that might not have been listed.

To take the survey CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE

WELLNESS

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

ACME CONNECTOR TRAIL The 1.8 mile Acme Connector Trail and southern leg of the Nakwema Trailway connecting the TART to Acme Township and beyond, is slated for completion later this fall.

Team Elmer's has installed the Acme Creek bridge and boardwalk and are wrapping up laying the pavement. We're thrilled to celebrate this project with our partners and the community as it creates meaningful connections between neighborhoods and businesses as well as the first step in connecting two major trail networks between Traverse City and Charlevoix. Stay tuned for the official opening announcement as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony coming soon!

3 MILE TRAIL TART Trails and project partners are thrilled to share that design and engineering is officially underway with OHM Advisors for the Three Mile Trail extension. The firm stood out among several other applicants based on the experience of the project team with similar trail facilities and funding sources. We’re excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work starting this fall. Stay tuned for more momentum on this project over the coming months. In the meantime brush up on the project in this Ticker article.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

PORK CHOPS WITH NECTARINE SALSA BERRY OVERNIGHT OATS Ingredients: I2 teaspoons chili powder 1 teaspoon ground coriander 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 boneless pork loin chops (4 ounces each and 1/2 inch thick) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 cup salsa 2 tablespoons apricot spreadable fruit 2 cups sliced peeled nectarines or peaches 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano Directions 1. In a small bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients.

Rub over both sides of pork chops. In a large nonstick skillet, cook pork chops in oil over medium-high heat until juices run clear, 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove to a serving platter and keep warm.

2. In the same skillet, combine salsa and spreadable fruit. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute.

Stir in nectarines, cilantro and oregano; cook until heated through, 2-3 minutes. Serve with pork.

Ingredients ½ cup Quaker® Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned, uncooked) ½ cup non-fat milk ½ cup non-fat plain Greek yogurt 1 teaspoon chia seeds (Optional) 1 cup fresh mixed berries and fruit Directions 1. Add Quaker® Oats to your container of choice and pour in milk.

2. Layer Greek yogurt, chia seeds and mixed fruit and berries.

3. Refrigerate overnight and enjoy in the morning!

GTC FACEBOOK PAGES GRAND TRAVERSE 911

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

ANIMAL CONTROL

PARKS & RECREATION

EMERGENCY MANAGMENT

SENIOR CENTER NETWORK

GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY

SHERIFF'S OFFICE

VETERAN AFFAIRS

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