Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. “People Helping People” www.tvoc.org
2012
August Newsletter T.H.E. Bus Links Northland Campuses By: Brandi Jewett, Grand Forks Herald
Northland Community and Technical College students will be able to travel back and forth between the school’s two campuses without burning their own gas this year. The school and Tri-Valley Opportunity Council Inc. announced they are once again partnering to provide NCTC students, faculty and staff with a free shuttle bus service for the 2012-213 school year. The bus will run between the college’s East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses. According to Steve Crittenden, dean of student development, around 20 to 25 people use the bus service each week.
(T.H.E. Bus story continued) In the mornings, bus No. 1 will leave the East Grand Forks campus at 6:45 a.m., travel to NCTC aerospace campus and arrive at the Thief River Falls main campus at 8 a.m. Bus No. 2 will depart from the Thief River Falls main campus at 6:45 a.m., travel to the aerospace campus and arrive at the East Grand Forks campus by 8 a.m. In the afternoons, bus No. 1 will leave the East Grand Forks campus at 4:30 p.m. and arrive at the Thief River Falls campus by 5:30 p.m. Bus No. 2 will depart from the Thief River Falls aerospace campus at 4:15 p.m., travel to the Thief River Falls main campus, depart from the TRF main campus at 4:30 p.m. and arrive at the East Grand Forks campus by 5:30 p.m.
“It’s a good start to the program,” he said. “The buses do have the capacity for more.” Now in its third year, the bus service is part of the school’s initiative to become more environmentally friendly and alleviate the financial burdens of its commuting students. “We have students that wouldn’t be attending our school if this service didn’t exist,” Crittenden said. Two buses are available for use by the Northland campuses. Community members can also use the service for a small fee. (Story continued at the top of page)
Did You Know?... * You can receive more information on Tri-Valley’s programs and services by calling 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020. * You can keep up with Tri-Valley news on the TVOC website at www.tvoc. org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TVOCInc and on Twitter at @TriValley_TVOC.
This information is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities. Contact us at 1-800584-7020 or by calling the Telecommunication Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-627-3529. Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer/provider. EOE/M/F/D/V
* Everyone can receive the Tri-Valley Newsletter. If you know of anyone who would like a copy please have them contact Mitch Bakken at 218-281-5832 or mitch.bakken@tvoc.org.
Head Start News * Children from our Migrant & Seasonal Head Start center in Winnebago visited the Winnebago Area Museum. They enjoyed pretending to go on a bear hunt! * The Monticello Fire Department visited us to explain to Head Start children the emergency procedures in case of a fire. * Children from our Migrant & Seasonal Head Start center in Owatonna enjoyed visiting the Steele County Free Fair. * Elysian Area Learning Center held its first Olympics on Wednesday, August 8. The children at the center participated in relay races, ball tossing events, basketball events, tumbling, ring toss, parachute fun, balance beam, bean bag toss, infant events and others. Each child received a medal and a popsicle. * We’re happy to announce children graduated from Migrant & Seasonal Head Start at our Owatonna center. We wish them the best!
T.H.E. Bus Offers Digi-Key Employees a Worry-Free Transportation Option (Thief River Falls, Minn.)- The Digi-Key Corporation in Thief River Falls, Minn. is one of the fastest growing distributors of electronic components in the world. With its success, the company has grown to around 2,500 employees. The employment explosion and the growth of the overall facility in general have employees looking for a convenient and reliable option for travel to and from work. The Tri-Valley Heartland Express (T.H.E.) Bus through Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. is a service that Digi-Key employees have turned to for simplifying their travel needs. T.H.E. Bus eliminates finding a parking space, navigating a large lot in inclement weather or alone. T.H.E. Bus is also an outstanding option for one vehicle families who need two sources of transportation. Families can rely on the dependability of T.H.E. Bus to get to work or run errands while eliminating fuel, licensing and other maintenance costs that come with owning a second vehicle. “The drivers are very friendly and helpful. It has been a great service for the eight months I have used it,” said one Digi-Key employee. Another employee added, “T.H.E. Bus is very relaxing. I don’t have to worry about a vehicle, parking or weather when I go to work.” T.H.E. Bus is a door-to-door service that can be scheduled when you need it. It can be scheduled for regular pick up and drop off times to and from work for added convenience. The buses are handicapped accessible and there are no income restrictions. T.H.E. Bus is public transportation for everyone in need of a convenient travel option. Call the Thief River Falls Transit Office at 218-681-6760 or 800-201-3432 (8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday) for more information or to schedule your ride.
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc. (TVOC) is a community action agency headquartered in Crookston, MN. It is our Mission to provide opportunities to individuals and communities in order to improve the quality of our lives. In existence since 1965, TVOC provides services in 84 counties in Minnesota and Northeast North Dakota. For more information on services offered by Tri-Valley please call 218-281-5832 or 800-584-7020.
Tri-Valley Opportunity Council, Inc.