Issue 003 The Village Vibe Fourth Quarter 2021

Th VillageVIBE

Village of Bald Head Island Employee Newsletter

Fourth Quarter 2021

Employee of the Year 2021!

This year’s Village Employee of the Year award goes to Stephen Pevarnik, Island Postal Specialist in the Island Package Center & Post Office. Stephen exemplifies professionalism through his customer-focused services. He is a role model for all employees who interact with the public and he is a dedicated member of the Island Package Center & Post Office team.

When presenting Stephen with his plaque, Village Manager Chris McCall added, “Stephen has been through changes of leadership in the department and has been the one constant through that change over the last few years.”

Congratulations Stephen!

Village Manager Chris McCall presented Stephen Pevarnik with this Employee of the Year plaque and check at the Employee Holiday Luncheon on December 3, 2021.

O H W H A T F U N !

Village employees enjoyed a wonderful feast at this year's employee holiday luncheon which took place on Friday, December 3, 2021, in the bays at the Department of Public Safety There were catered pasta dishes, bread, and salad, as well as desserts Grillmaster David Mintz contributed to the feast with some of his delicious barbecue David Cox and James Wooten helped with some tasty sides and drinks to go with it. Mayor Sayre and Mayor Pro Tem Brown stopped by to join the holiday celebration and Stephen Pevarnik received the Employee of the Year award. Judy Schofield, Mishanda Mohundro, and Darcy Sperry helped put it together, Michelle Kesmodel, Gina Hinson, and Elizabeth Gray helped with set up and take down, THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Your Benefits

Health Management Systems of America (HMSA) is the Village's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider. The EAP is a confidential, voluntary service that provides professional counseling and referral services designed to help you and your family members with personal, job, or family-related problems.

Your EAP can help you and your family members identify, resolve, and gain control over personal problems that may be interfering with work and daily life.

Services are confidential and free!

Some common concerns with EAP can help with:

·Stress, Anxiety Depression

·Life Transitions

·Grief & Loss

· Divorce/Separation

·Conflict Resolution

· Substance Abuse

·Work-Life Counseling

ONLINE

24 hours a day

7 days a week

365 days a year

Go to www.my-life-resource.com  Username: hmsa   Password: myresource

Some of the online resources include:  legal & financial tools, financial calulators, childcare, eldercare, health & wellness resources, health & wellness podcasts, 1,000+ articles, simple will preparation.

4 Healthy Holiday Hacks

by Michelle Rogers, CPT (from BCBSNC Point of Blue Blog - shortened slightly)

The holidays are about family, fun — and food! This time of year, it’s easy to put off exercise and reach for a plate of cookies instead. While one rich holiday meal or a few snickerdoodles won’t wreck anyone, the problem is that the holiday season actually begins with Halloween and other fall festivities and doesn’t end until after New Year’s Day. That can mean up to three months of overindulging. And then, many of us enter January resolving to get back on track with healthier habits. But what if you were able to maintain your weight, fit in some exercise, and still enjoy yourself during the holidays? Is it possible, without willpower of steel? The answer is yes!  Get ahead of your most common holiday fitness and wellness hurdles with these tips.

INSTEAD OF: Putting off workouts     TRY THIS: Fit in short bouts of exercise

If you’re currently exercising regularly, do your best to stick to your workout schedule rather than give it up for the holidays. It’s so much easier not to have to start over. But if you’re having trouble finding the time or ambition to work out, try “exercise snacking,” a term that means fitting in short amounts of exercise during your day. Not into working out? One of the easiest and best exercises you can do is go for a walk. Try to make it a routine, such as walking your dog before and after work. Or walk during your lunch hour, for a refreshing break and some rejuvenating sunshine. Exercise is easier when it’s fun. Like to dance? Crank up the tunes and shake your stuff in the kitchen while you’re waiting on the microwave.

INSTEAD OF: Cookies for comfort      TRY THIS:

Bust

stress the healthy way

The holidays can be one of the most stressful times of the year, with much to do and many demands on your time and energy. Especially this year when we’re also dealing with the stress and uncertainty of COVID-19. It’s no surprise that emotional eating can factor in. Exercise can be a big help in dealing with stress and can help you feel better. In fact, exercise is a natural antidepressant. While fitness is good for our physical health, science clearly says that exercise benefits our brain and our mental health, too. (1) Exercise causes changes in the brain chemicals that affect mood. Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, triggering the release of endorphins and serotonin, the “feel good” hormones. In addition, exercise helps reduce depression and anxiety by enhancing the body’s ability to respond to stress.

Continued on Page 4

4

Healthy

Getting enough rest also helps Everything always seems harder when we’re tired Sleep is restorative, so try to get a good night’s shut-eye if you can Think of other ways to relax and de-stress as well Taking a long bubble bath, practicing yoga, using a meditation app, reading a good book, calling a f riend, or focusing on a hobby are other ways to help turn down the knob on stress

INSTEAD OF: Tempting treats on the counter TRY THIS: Out of sight, out of mind

It’s probably not a good idea to try to launch a restrictive diet during the holidays It can be miserable to deprive yourself of what you want to enjoy at a celebration Aim instead to be more mindful and aware of what you’re eating and how much of it Limit portion sizes of high-calorie foods Enjoy treats in moderation Have one slice of pie at your holiday dinner, rather than two You do not have to necessarily avoid eating your favorite holiday foods Just put a limit on the portion size and ensure you’re consuming it only at your special meal and not throughout the day and night

INSTEAD OF: Going on a holiday diet TRY THIS: Think moderation, not deprivation

With holiday goodies abound, you may feel helpless in the face of temptation A key to dealing with this is to limit the opportunities for you to be tempted While that can be a challenge during the holidays, there are certain things you can do to make it a whole lot easier on yourself.

Maybe you can’t control whether your coworker brings doughnuts to work, or the endless cookie options at grandma’s house But this year, many of us are staying home for the holidays due to COVID-19, and you can control what’s in your own home. If you focus on that, you’ll be ahead of the game. Our eyes are powerful contributors to urges Things you see can be a huge trigger for cravings that lead to overeating If you bring that box of delicious desserts into your house, chances are probably 100% that you’re going to eat it, or at least you’ll desperately want to It’s best to leave it on the grocery store shelf and not even bring it home

But what about the holiday candy you need for the kids or that special celebration? Two strategies can help with that. First, wait until last minute to get it, rather than shopping ahead of time. Secondly, lock up treats somewhere that you won’t easily see or access Even hiding it in the back of the f reezer or the trunk of your car can work. Don’t leave tempting treats out on the kitchen counter or table where you can see them. You’re only human, after all!

It’s about finding balance

Look, no one’s saying you need to forgo all the yummy stuff during the holidays in order to be healthy. Rather, it’s about the choices you make and f inding what works best for you

Living a heathy lifestyle is about more than what you weigh or how many miles you can run It’s about feeling happy and healthy on the inside, too. That’s how you can feel when you make healthier choices a part of your daily life, year-round You’re taking care of the only body you’ll ever have And you’re worth it!

Hylton

Hinson

Furr

Nick

Gibson

Morales

McCann

George

HELPING OUT

A Badwater Race, A Birdhouse, & Beards

everal of the Village’s public safety officers sported beards, or other growth on their face, or highlighted hair for “No Shave November.”

Each year the department participates in this monthlong event with the proceeds from the money saved by not shaving,

products, etc. being donated

organization. This year, the department raised funds for  the BaldHeadIslandConservancy.

fter Hurricane Florence destroyed the birdhouse at the marina, Bald Head Island resident Nancy Giacci went to social media looking for someone to replace it. Jim McKinistry stepped up and built a new one.

Jim, with the help of Village Manager Chris McCall, and Mike Harris, and James Wooten from Public Works, lifted the martin house into place on October 15, 2021. Unfortunately, the post split upon lifting the birdhouse, so it was temporarily braced until a new post  was installed. Jim made a mini version for Village Hall too!

FAREWELL!

Brandy Nance

ublic Safety Officer Paul Homick took on the challenge and ran in the Badwater Cape Fear Race on October 2, 2021, to raise funds for the Public Service Auxiliary. The hope was to raise enough funds to purchase additional wheelchairs and a state-ofthe-art cardiac machine.

Officer Homick ran through streets, wooded trails, and the beach, and ended up completing over half of the 51-mile race by completing over 30 miles. In doing so, he raised $6,960 in donations!

The Village said goodbye to Public Safety Officer Brandy Nance on November 22, 2021.  The Town of Lake Waccamaw recognized her skills, experience, and familiarity with the region and offered her the position of Fire Chief.  Her departure is a great loss to our agency and Village. It is to Lake Waccamaw’s benefit since they are receiving an accomplished professional who is also a great person to have as part of any agency.

As has been the tradition with members, Brandy was given the water cannon salute by her squad as she departed on the ferry. We wish her great success and will miss her!

Mayor J. Andrew Sayre

He's not an employee, but many of us worked with him for several years.  Mayor Sayre decided not to run for re-election during this last municipal election and is starting a new chapter of his life after serving on the Village Council since 1997.  Sayre served as Mayor Pro Tempore from November 2003 until December 2009 and as Mayor from December 2009 until December 2021.  During his last meeting on December 10, 2021, he was presented with a resolution honoring his years of service to the Village.

At the Village employee holiday luncheon, Mr. McCall announced that he had worked with Mayor Sayre for 18 years and during that time, Mayor Sayre had been a part of his professional growth, and he thanked him for that.  Mayor Sayre spoke and said that he had been asked what he is going to miss most about Village government.  He said he liked building things like rocks on the beach, roads, pipes in the ground, and buildings, but what he is going  mayor is working with the Village employees.  "We have the best Village team we've ever had and I am absolutely certain of that right now...so that is going to augur very well for the future,  so thank you very much for all you do."

to miss most about being

Village Manager Chris McCall & Mayor Sayre at the Village employee holiday luncheon.

James Wooten, Mike Harris, and Chris McCall assisting Jim McKinistry with lifting the newly crafted birdhouse into place at the Bald Head Island Marina.

PSO Paul Homick as he rounds the turn for the final quarter mile of the race. He is being cheered on by his wife Allison.

Lt. Josh Gibson and PSO Matt Furr sporting their "No Shave November" beards. buying grooming

to a local

Becoming a Resilient Employee

During the COVID-19 pandemic, have you coped with stress by thinking, “I am going to see this as a challenge” or “Is there opportunity to grow in this situation?”

These responses to adversity represent resilience thinking. Many books about resiliency are authored by those who have faced difficult challenges—from disabled persons to the Navy Seals. Their commonality is a decision to not surrender. Develop resiliency by discovering what motivates you to get excited about the future. Fight negative self-talk regarding your ability to succeed. Practice work-life balance and self-nurturing behaviors for their powerful benefits. And when you face changes, focus physically and emotionally on what you can control. Resiliency skills aren’t pulled from a drawer when they are needed. They are everyday skills you use to solve problems correctly, take action on your goals, and develop reflexes to look for the opportunity in challenges you experience.

Learn more at www.ncsu.edu (search “resilience is a process”).

Excerpt from Frontline Employee – September 2021 from HMSA – Health Management Systems of America – The Village’s EAP Provider

Baby Picture Contest!

Can you name the Village employee in the picture below?  Email or text the correct answer to: cfaulkner@villagebhi.org or (910) 368-6338 and if you are the first one to answer correctly, you will win a prize!  If you have a baby picture to submit for a future contest, please send them to Carin at cfaulkner@villagebhi.org.

Where did you grow up?

My dad was in the Navy, so I grew up in SC, TN, and NC.

When did you start working for the Village?

July 2016

What do you like to do for fun?

Hiking with my husband and dogs!

What is your favorite food?

I love cake! Anything else?

I love dogs!!

Christmas

New Year's MLK, Jr Birthday

Good Friday

Memorial Day

VILLAGE HOLIDAYS

Thursday, Friday & Monday, December 23, 24 & 27, 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Monday, January 17, 2022

Friday, April 15, 2022

Monday, May 30, 2022