Midland County MI : February Newsletter

DID YOU KNOW?

You can follow Midland County, Michigan, on Facebook:

@co.midland.mi.us.

Other County offices with Facebook pages include:

Emergency Management Health Department Mosquito Control

Parks and Recreation Prosecuting Attorney Sheriff's Office

IN THIS ISSUE

THREE NEW COMMISSIONERSHEART HEALTH MONTHVALUABLE GOVERNMENTEXPERIENCE

PINECREST CELEBRATESRESIDENT

COMMON SCAMSFEELING GRAY?JOB OPENINGS

MSU EXTENSION OFFERS CLASSSOLAR SYSTEM PROJECT UPDATEACROSS THE COUNTIES

IN THE COMMUNITYPAY YOUR TAXES

February 2017 Newsletter‌‌‌ MIDLAND COUNTY WELCOMES THREE NEW COMMISSIONERS

Our new commissioners have in common, a passion for serving the community and optimism about their upcoming terms as county commissioners:

Robert Steven Glaser

"When my wife and I moved to this community in 1976, I began a long commitment to serving my church, St. John's Lutheran Church. I've served on a number of boards and in several leadership positions and am currently vice-chairman of the congregation. I also served two terms on the Bullock Creek Board of Education from 1986 to 1990 and had the pleasure of presenting diplomas to both of my daughters.

We all have a soft impression of what the County does. I'm working now to get a richer insight into the full menu of County services and giving thought to how I will apply my own personal guiding principles to the challenges of decision- making during my term as a commissioner. I know that every service the County provides has both a cost and a consequence, and I look forward to working through these details with the staff and commissioners to make the best decisions for everyone in the community."

Jeanette Snyder

"As a volunteer at my local church for 22 years, I have served in a variety of different areas, including choir, nursery, teaching classes, office work, and organizing all of the church wedding and baby showers. I also actively volunteer in my kids school activities and since 2012, I have been on the Sanford

IMPORTANT DATES February - American Heart Month Feb. 2 - National Groundhog Day Feb. 3 - National Wear Red Day Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day Feb. 14 - National (Organ) Donor Day Feb. 20 - Presidents' Day Feb. 28 - Winter property taxes due Feb. 28 - Fat Tuesday

Make it Your Mission to Fight Heart Disease in Women. Mark your calendars for the annual Go Red For Women Conferenceon Thursday, February 3, 2017 .

March - MSU Extension Health and Nutrition Month Mar. 1 - Property Tax Forfeiture Day Mar. 8 - National Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Day Mar. 12 - Daylight Savings Begins (2:00 am) Mar. 17 - St. Patrick's Day Mar. 20 - Vernal Equinox (Spring begins)

Lake Assoc. board where I am currently vice president. I also actively participate and serve my community in Edenville Township where I reside.

I look forward to serving the great community of Midland County. I believe we are blessed with a great team here at the County and I thank them for their service. My goal as commissioner is to work with the other commissioners to preserve and perhaps enhance what we already enjoy in Midland County."

Gaye Terwillegar

"Prior to being elected commissioner, I served as executive director of Midland Partnership for Drug Free Youth for more than 10 years. I was at the front line of drug prevention for Midland County youth; working with middle and high schools in Midland County, parents, counselors, administrators, law enforcement, businesses, treatment, corrections, commissioners, courts, medical, and faith communities. I also have volunteered as a Rotarian, for Red Cross of Midland County, Leadership Midland alumni, and on MidMichigan Medical Ethics boards.

I look forward to working with our current commissioners in learning the vast amount of knowledge necessary for efficient and effective governance of Midland County. I also look forward to getting better aquainted with county employees and their respective departments, and the service on my respective board appointments. I would also like to thank all Midland County employees for their dedication and service to Midland County."

FEBRUARY IS HEART HEALTH MONTH

Guard Against the Silent Killer

What one thing can you do to be heart healthier this year? "Know your blood pressure," says Tammy Movsas, MD, MPH, medical director for Midland County Health Department.. "High blood pressure is the 'silent killer' since it has no warning signs, and many times, people don't even know they have it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that if you have high blood pressure, take your medication and practice a healthy lifestyle:

• Eat a healthy diet

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Get enough physical activity

• Don't smoke

• Limit alcohol use

COUNTY EMPLOYEES GAIN VALUABLE GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE

Two County employees, Jenifier Boyer and Alan Bloch (pictured left, center), are among 25 participants taking a free 10-week series of classes designed to teach citizens about how their local government works for them.

Jenifier says, "The program is a great opportunity for citizen's to get an idea of the different operations of local government. I

think many simply pay their taxes and don't really understand the important resources and services that they are supporting. The academy offers an educational look behind the scenes of day-to-day operations as well as interaction with key staff."

Alan thinks the course is a good way to see what Midland offers and how the city and county operate together. "I can pass that on to others I meet and work with. It helps me answer questions like, Where does it come from? and Where does it go?"

The Citizens Academy is conducted by the City of Midland from mid-January through mid-March each year and takes participants through the various functions of city government. The academy also includes a bonus session with Midland County government and presentations from area organizations including Midland Tomorrow and the Midland County Historical Society.

PINECREST CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL RESIDENT

Pinecrest resident Veronica Schmidt celebrated her 100th birthday on January 23 with a cake and party for family and friends in the communal dining area. The kind-hearted resident lived in Detroit and was employed by Wayne County Juvenilie Court before moving to Midland County and Pinecrest Farms.

Read the full January 24, 2016 Midland Daily News story online.

Watch the most recent Board of Commissioners meeting and check out meeting agendas/minutes here.

Back to top

COMMON SCAMS - DON'T BE A VICTIM

In this post-holiday season, Sheriff Scott Stephenson reminds us to check recent credit card statements carefully. "If you believe you've been the target of a scam, be sure to report it to local law enforcement."

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) released its annual list of the top ten consumer scams of 2016, naming the same top three ̶ tax scams, debt collection scams, and sweepstakes/prizes/gifts scams - as last year:

1.	Tax (IRS and CRA)	6. Government grant
2.	Debt collection	7. Tech support
3.	Sweepstakes/prizes/gift	8. Advance fee loan
4.	Online purchase	9. Fake check/money order
5.	Employment	10. Phishing

The list is based on more than 30,000 scam reports filed by consumers on BBB Scam Tracker, a free interactive online tool launched last year by the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust. Read more about the scams.

FEELING AS GRAY AS THE WEATHER?

Gloomy. That pretty accurately describes the recent weather in mid-Michigan. And for many, it's hard to be upbeat when facing weeks of overcast, gray skies. For others, their feeling blue may be linked to a type of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

According to Midland County Medical Director Tammy Movsas, MD, MPH, seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer. Winter sufferers of

SAD have some or all of the symptoms of major depression, as well as low energy, hypersomnia, overeating, weight gain, carbohydate cravings, and social withdrawal.

Certain attributes may increase your risk of SAD, including:

• Being female - SAD is diagnosed four times more often in women than men

• Living far from the equator - SAD is more frequent in people who live far north or south of the equator

• Family history - People with a family history of other types of depression are more likely to develop SAD than people who do not have a family history of depression

• Having depression or bipolar disorder - The symptoms of depression may worsen with the seasons if you have one of these conditions

• Younger Age - Younger adults have a higher risk of SAD than older adults

Dr. Movsas says several effective treatments and therapies are available for those with SAD. See your doctor if you believe you may be suffering from major depression or SAD.